The ACC remained well represented in the latest USA Today Sports Coaches Poll, released on Monday, with four ACC programs earning spots inside the Top 25 and two more narrowly missing the cut. As non-conference play winds down and résumés continue to take shape, the poll reflects both the depth at the top of the league and the tightening margins separating ranked teams from those still on the outside looking in.

Duke led the conference in the poll, checking in at No. 6 overall, maintaining its position as the ACC’s highest-ranked team despite dropping their first game to Texas Tech in a thriller. The Blue Devils’ placement underscores a strong early-season résumé that continues to resonate with coaches across the country, even as other power-conference teams jockey for position ahead of league play.

Just behind Duke, North Carolina landed at No. 12, giving the ACC two teams firmly entrenched in the upper half of the rankings. The Tar Heels’ standing reflects steady non-conference success and keeps them well-positioned entering the final week before conference schedules ramp up across the country.

Louisville followed closely at No. 14, extending the ACC’s presence in the middle of the Top 25. The Cardinals’ continued inclusion highlights their consistency through December and reinforces their status as a legitimate contender as the calendar turns toward conference play.

Rounding out the league’s ranked teams, Virginia appeared at No. 21, giving the ACC four programs inside the poll. The Cavaliers’ placement reflects a solid body of work that has kept them in the national conversation, even as movement throughout the lower half of the rankings remains fluid week to week.

Two additional ACC teams were just outside the Top 25 but received votes, signaling how close the conference is to adding even more ranked programs. California finished with nine votes, while Clemson picked up one vote, putting both teams firmly on the radar heading into the final stretch of nonconference play.

With conference schedules approaching fast, the Coaches Poll provides a snapshot of where ACC programs stand nationally — and with multiple teams hovering near the Top 25 cutoff, the league appears poised for further movement in the weeks ahead.

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