The helmets are polished, the pads are popping, and a new season of ACC football is upon us. With new teams, new quarterbacks, and conference title aspirations for a handful of programs, the race to Charlotte is wide open. As we head into Week 1, here's our ranking of the ACC from top to bottom.
Brad Senkiw's ACC power rankings
1. Clemson Tigers
The class of the ACC is in a tier by itself, but the Tigers face a massive challenge against LSU on Saturday.
2. Miami Hurriances
The constantly-hyped Hurricanes are always hard to figure out early, but not gonna rule them out as a challenger down the road to the Tigers.
3. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Brent Key’s squad is going to be a tough out every week, and a lot of eyeballs will see that this week against Deion Sanders and Colorado.
4. Louisville Cardinals
Transfer QBU is trying to do it again with Miller Moss, but the defensive concerns keep them from ranking higher.
5. SMU Mustangs
Rhett Lashlee’s squad more than proved themselves ACC-ready last year, but expectations will be higher in Year 2, and maybe hard to live up to.
6. Duke Blue Devils
This is going to be a scrappy bunch that hangs around and steals a few wins.
7. North Carolina Tar Heels
Week 1 will tell us so much about whether this is going to work with Bill Belichick.
8. NC State Wolfpack
The Dave Doeren tenure has reached an unpleasant staleness, and a loss at home to ECU this week would be devastating for his job security.
9. Florida State Seminoles
Last year’s opener was one of the most disastrous ever, so at least losing to Alabama on Saturday won’t sting nearly as much.
10. Pittsburgh Panthers
Another program with a stale feeling that should be better than this, but last year’s 0-6 finish has lowered expectations.
11. Virginia Tech Hokies
I don’t know what it’ll take for me to ever believe in Brent Key’s Hokies, but I’ll let you know when I see it.
12. Virginia Cavaliers
This feels like a critical year for Tony Elliott, and maybe they will quickly rise in these rankings.
13. Syracuse Orange
Fran Brown has a great mentality as a coach, but without QB Kyle McCord, they start near the bottom with room for improvement.
14. Boston College Eagles
Much like the two teams ahead of them, BC could challenge for the upper half of the ACC if the quarterback works for Bill O’Brien.
15. California Golden Bears
Cal basically lost their entire offense, but Justin Wilcox is used to being scoring-challenged.
16. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Former Auburn and South Carolina QB Robbie Ashford won the starting job, so that tells me a lot about how this season will likely go for new coach Jake Dickert.
17. Stanford Cardinal
The worst team in the league already started 0-1 with a Week 0 loss at Hawaii, but, hey, there’s nowhere to go but up.
Zach Lentz
1. Clemson Tigers
Are the Tigers vulnerable? Maybe. But until someone knocks them off the throne, they remain the kings of the ACC. With a defense that's always loaded with future NFL talent and a five-star quarterback in Cade Klubnik looking to take the next step, the path to an ACC title still runs through Death Valley. The opening-week clash with LSU will be an immediate test of their championship mettle.
2. Miami Hurricanes
Is "The U" officially back? The hype is certainly real. The arrival of quarterback Carson Beck has energized the fanbase and gives the Hurricanes one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country. If the defense can match the offense's explosiveness, Miami has the potential to make a run at their first-ever ACC title.
3. Louisville Cardinals
Year three of the Jeff Brohm era has expectations soaring in Louisville. The offense is expected to be one of the most potent in the ACC, and the Cardinals have enough playmakers to hang with anyone. They proved they could compete with the top of the conference last year, and now they're looking to take the next step.
4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Yellow Jackets have an X-factor at quarterback in Haynes King, and that makes them dangerous. They pulled off some big upsets last season, and with King's dual-threat ability, they are a threat to beat anyone on any given Saturday. Consistency will be key for Georgia Tech.
5. SMU Mustangs
The Mustangs aren't just happy to be here; they were built to compete from day one. With a high-powered offense and the resources to make noise in their new conference, SMU is looking to make the playoffs for a second straight season.
6. NC State Wolfpack
Never sleep on the Wolfpack. Dave Doeren's squad is consistently one of the toughest and most well-coached teams in the conference. They are physical, disciplined, and always seem to exceed expectations. With a veteran group returning, NC State is a legitimate dark horse to win the conference.
7. Florida State Seminoles
Mike Norvell has rebuilt the culture in Tallahassee, and the expectations are sky-high. They'll need to navigate a tough schedule, but this is a team built to win now.
8. Virginia Tech Hokies
Brent Pry has the Hokies trending in the right direction. With a ton of returning production and a defense that should be one of the best in the conference, Virginia Tech is a popular pick to be a surprise contender in the ACC race. Lane Stadium will be rocking this fall.
9. North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels will go as far as their offense can take them. They'll put up points in bunches, but the big question, as it has been for the past few seasons, is on the defensive side of the ball. If they can get just enough stops, they have the offensive firepower to be a factor in the conference race.
10. Duke Blue Devils
The Blue Devils have been one of the best stories in college football the past two seasons.
11. Syracuse Orange
It's a new era for Syracuse football. The Orange are hoping to capitalize on the success of 2024.
12. Boston College Eagles
Boston College will always be a tough, physical football team that no one looks forward to playing. They'll lean on a strong running game and a gritty defense to try and grind out wins in a tough conference.
13. Pitt Panthers
Pat Narduzzi's teams are never short on toughness, but the Panthers have some major questions to answer on the offensive side of the ball. The defense will keep them in games, but they'll need to find more consistent playmakers to move up in the standings.
14. California Golden Bears
The Golden Bears face a tough road ahead. The travel schedule alone will be a challenge, and they'll have to continue their significant step up in competition week in and week out.
15. Virginia Cavaliers
Tony Elliott is in the middle of a multi-year rebuild in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers are a young team that is still trying to find its identity. They'll be looking for signs of progress and building blocks for the future this season.
16. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
The Demon Deacons are in a bit of a rebuilding phase. With a roster that has lost a lot of talent over the past two seasons, this season will be a struggle.
17. Stanford Cardinal
It's going to be a long season on The Farm. The Cardinal are in the early stages of a complete program overhaul under Troy Taylor. Their first season in the ACC will be about laying a foundation for the future.