Duke: Was Manny Diaz Disrespected in ACC Coaches Ranking?

Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz didn't appreciate the jokes that were sent his program's way during the ACC Kickoff media event last month.

The conference made changes to the tiebreaker rules that allowed Duke to make (and win) the ACC Championship Game with five losses in the regular season. Some people referred to the rule changes as the "Duke tiebreaker rule" at the meeting.

Despite winning the ACC championship last season, Diaz didn't shit up the ACC coaching ranking by CBS Sports. The outlet ranked Diaz as the No. 7 best coach in the conference, up just two spots from No. 9 in 2025.

"Diaz surged 14 spots in the national rankings after leading Duke to its first ACC Championship since 1989," Chip Patterson wrote.

"The movement among his ACC peers is less dramatic, but it's notable that he has jumped just ahead of coaches like Dave Doeren and Pat Narduzzi, who have been at their current posts for more than a decade. As Diaz prepares for his third year in Durham, he has ample resources and a program foundation to build more ACC title contenders in the future."

CBS Sports ranked Virginia head coach Tony Elliott at No. 10, allowing him to move up from No. 16 after making and losing to Duke in the ACC championship.

The real crime is having Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key (No. 6) above Diaz. With Haynes King and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, the Yellow Jackets should have been in position to make a run for the College Football Playoff last season and make the ACC Championship Game.

It feels like the panel that voted for ACC coaches doesn't take championship achievements seriously. They placed Mario Cristobal above Dabo Swinney despite Cristobal having never won an ACC championship, and the Clemson Tigers earning one in 2024. 

Diaz suffered two big losses in the offseason when Darian Mensah and Cooper Barkate transferred to Miami. That could play a factor in the rankings, as Duke faces an uphill battle to make a bowl game after replacing a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate.