Duke Stands Alone: New Top 25 Projection Highlights ACC’s Shrinking National Power
In a surprising twist for college basketball fans, the latest projected Top 25 rankings feature only two teams from the ACC, with Duke holding strong near the top — and the rest of the once-mighty conference largely on the outside looking in. For a league that historically dominated March Madness and produced national contenders yearly, the sharp drop in representation is raising eyebrows across the sport.
The Blue Devils, under the guidance of head coach Jon Scheyer, continue to carry the torch for the conference. With a strong mix of returning veterans and elite incoming recruits, Duke looks ready to chase another Final Four berth. Their continued success highlights the program’s stability and national relevance, even in a shifting landscape of NIL deals and the transfer portal.
The only other ACC team cracking the Top 25? North Carolina — but just barely. The Tar Heels are clinging to a spot near the bottom of the rankings after an inconsistent 2024 campaign, relying heavily on the development of young talent and hoping to rediscover the championship-caliber chemistry they’ve lacked in recent years.
Meanwhile, traditional ACC powers like Virginia, Florida State, and Louisville are noticeably absent from the conversation. It’s a stark contrast from a decade ago when the ACC regularly sent half a dozen teams to the tournament and had multiple contenders vying for the title.
The dwindling presence of the ACC in national rankings begs the question: Is this a temporary dip or a long-term trend? For now, Duke remains the standard-bearer, but if the conference hopes to regain its former glory, more programs will need to rise to the challenge — and soon.
