LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – The long offseason is nearly over, and college football is just a little over a month away from making its spectacular return, which means some exciting and intriguing developments in the ACC.
The conference situation is noticeably different than it was at this time last year. Earlier this month, a knock-on effect of conference realignment saw the league officially add UC, Stanford and SMU to its roster. As with last season, the now 17-school league has a division-free format, with the two teams with the best conference winning percentages advancing to the ACC Championship Game.
Florida State may be the reigning ACC champions, but the race to Charlotte will be one to watch: Clemson and Miami could easily challenge the reigning champions, and other dark horse contenders could have seasons worthy of competing for the ACC crown.
So, how does the conference look now as the 2024 season approaches? Check out our preseason ACC power rankings below.
Last season's records: 13-1 (8-0 ACC)
Florida State is the current reigning champion of the ACC unless proven otherwise. Last season, the Seminoles won it all before bowl season and won their first ACC title since 2014. Sure, they lost to Georgia in the Orange Bowl and lost a lot of talent in the draft with 10 players going into the NFL. That said, head coach Mike Norvell did a great job in the portal and landed a new QB in DJ Uiagalelei. Combined with returning many of last season's players despite losing to the NFL, it's very possible that FSU will be ACC champions again.
Last season's records: 9-4 (ACC 4-4)
2024 could be a make-or-break year for Clemson and coach Dabo Swinney. 2023 was the first season since 2010 where they failed to achieve double-digit wins, and Swinney's refusal to use the portal has hurt the Tigers' potential in today's era of college football. That being said, Clemson still recruits high school players at a very high level and has one of the best homegrown rosters in the country. OC Garrett Riley absolutely has to get the offense going, but Clemson has the all-around talent to threaten FSU, especially on the defensive end.
Last season's record: 7-6 (3-5 ACC)
Speaking of talent, Miami has the most talented roster in the ACC and one of the most talented in all of college football. They have a good mix of returning impact players like Ruben Bayne and Xavier Restrepo, and they have acquired some very talented transfers, including new starting QB Cam Ward. But the biggest question for Miami, as it has been for years now, is whether they can live up to expectations. Mainly, it's whether head coach Mario Cristobal can get out of his own way. Only time will tell, but the Hurricanes have the talent to make a case to win the ACC.
Last season's records: 10-4 (7-1 ACC)
Louisville may have stumbled to the finish line in 2023, but they came into last season on a devastating note. In his first season at the helm, head coach Jeff Brohm led the Cardinals to their first 10-win season in a decade and their first appearance in the ACC Championship Game. Brohm and the team seem determined to replicate their first-year success after welcoming the No. 1 transfer portal class in college football. Though there are some question marks, including the long-term health of new QB Tyler Shaw, don't be surprised if Louisville takes on Charlotte again in 2024.
Last season's records: 11-3 (USA 9-0)
Of the three teams new to the ACC, SMU is by far the most poised to have success on the gridiron in Year 1. First, the Mustangs won the American Athletic Conference last season and come into the league with recent championship experience. On top of that, SMU returns most of their impact playmakers from 2023, including quarterback Preston Stone and defensive lineman Elijah Roberts. The adjustment to a power competition from playing Group of Five teams on a weekly basis is a legitimate question, as is SMU's overall depth over two levels, but this depth makes them a legitimate dark horse candidate for a winning trend in the ACC right from the get-go.
Last season's records: 9-4 (6-2 ACC)
During head coach Dave Doeren's tenure, NC State came close to winning the ACC but was still far from being a true contender. The Wolfpack seem to be making a serious push to get over that barrier. NC State returns some impact players, including CB Aidan White and WR Kevin “KC” Concepcion, injecting a top-10 portal class in college football. New QB Grayson McCall should help bolster the offense after a very disappointing performance last season. And despite the loss of Peyton Wilson, their defense should be one of the best in the ACC.
Last season's records: 7-6 (5-3 ACC)
Coach Brent Pry ran Virginia Tech at a much more efficient level last season after going 3-8 in his first year at the helm. In fact, they could have won by double digits had they not dropped three games that were lost by one point. The Hokies return most of their players from last season, including breakout dual-threat QB Kyron Draughns and DL Antwaun Powell-Ryland, giving them some of the best continuity in the ACC going into 2024. They may not have the caliber of a top ACC contender, but Virginia Tech has great continuity that could make them the league's dark horse.
Last season's records: 8-5 (4-4 ACC)
2024 will be a very interesting year for North Carolina on both offense and defense. The Tar Heels have one of the best running backs in the nation in Omarion Hampton, but the offensive line has some question marks over their quarterback performance with Drake Maye off to the NFL. Meanwhile, UNC has been woeful on defense, and the hiring of Geoff Collins as DC could determine the ceiling for this team if the offense stabilizes. Head coach Mack Brown has been strong since returning to Chapel Hill, but North Carolina is a bit of a mystery heading into 2024.
Last season's records: 6-7 (4-5 Pac-12)
Sure, SMU is the best-equipped of the three ACC newcomers, but Cal could be a team to watch out for if other teams in the league aren't careful. RB Jadyn Ott is one of the best offensive players in the entire school system, and LB Cade Uluave is an underrated defensive player. Additionally, Golden Bears head coach Justin Wilcox hyped the portal ahead of his first year in the ACC, recruiting the No. 15 transfer student in football to his team. This team is poised to pull off at least one major upset this season.
Last season's records: 7-6 (5-3 ACC)
Georgia Tech turned to coaching from within after firing head coach Geoff Collins, and it appears to have been the right decision. In his first full season as head coach, Brent Key was able to lead the Yellow Jackets to their first bowl game since 2018 and their first bowl win since 2016. In theory, GT could be one of the most explosive offensive teams in the league, returning their top two rushers and receivers, as well as gunslinger QB Haynes King. The defense *should* improve with the addition of Portal in 2024, but this unit was one of the worst in the ACC last season.
Last season's records: 8-5 (4-4 ACC)
Head coach Mike Elko had a great run during his short tenure at Duke, including nine wins in 2022. However, after he left to take over at Texas A&M, the team took a big hit in the portal and the NFL Draft. That being said, new head coach Manny Diaz has a solid reputation for coaching defenses. Additionally, they have some good offensive players, including former University of Texas QB Malik Murphy. Although some rebuilding will be necessary, the Blue Devils should be able to be somewhat competitive in Diaz's first year.
Last season's records: 6-7 (2-6 ACC)
Dino Babers finally found himself in a bind and was fired as head coach late last season. Syracuse opted to bring in Fran Brown, one of Georgia's top recruiters, as head coach, and the results are already showing. The Orange return veteran playmakers such as TW Olander Gadsden II and LB Marlowe Wax, and have a top-10 portal class led by former Ohio State QB Kyle McCord. Time will tell if it all works out for Brown, who is in his first season as head coach, but at least Syracuse has some talent in 2024 and a chance to make it big time.
Last season's records: 7-6 (3-5 ACC)
Boston College was also busy replacing their coach this offseason, but with Jeff Hafley leaving for the NFL, it wasn't their choice. Instead, the Eagles made a big splash by acquiring former Penn State and Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien. Breakout QB Thomas Castellanos Jr. needs to be more consistent as a passer, but he's a dynamic playmaker and Boston College has a solid offense in Year 1. So what about defense? It's still a big question mark for the Eagles, and at least in Year 1, it's likely to be a unit that hinders Boston College's true potential.
Last season's records: 3-9 (2-6 ACC)
A great power has fallen. Just two years removed from winning the ACC, Pittsburgh finished among the worst teams in the league last season and doesn't look like they'll be much better in 2024. The Panthers' offense was a total mess last year and the QB position remains a big question mark this season. Head coach Pat Narduzzi is a defensive wizard and has some talented players remaining, but the NFL Draft and two portal windows haven't been great for Pittsburgh on that front. Will Narduzzi be in hot water by the end of the season?
Last season's records: 4-8 (1-7 ACC)
As for the argument for being in trouble, head coach Dave Clawson isn't there yet, but maybe after this season. Wake Forest's first season after retiring head coach Sam Hartman was tough, finishing with the worst record in the ACC. The Demon Deacons' offense wasn't great last year, but should be better after bringing in former Boise State QB Hank Bachmeier. Defensively, WF is certainly nothing to write home about, but they are ahead on offense in 2023 and return quite a few players. The pieces are in place for Wake to bounce back, but they'll have to execute.
Last season's records: 3-9 (2-6 ACC)
Tony Elliott's time at Virginia hasn't been great, going 6-16 in two years and entering the 2024 season as the toughest coaching staff in the ACC. The Cavaliers have a very notable QB battle between Tony Musket and Anthony Colandrea, but their offense is very one-dimensional. Defensively, Jonas Sanker is the best safety in the ACC and they have other solid returners, but the Hoos were one of the worst defenses in the ACC last season. Virginia has had some pretty close losses that suggest they're not as bad as their record suggests, but at some point those close losses should turn into close wins.
Last season's records: 3-9 (2-7 Pac-12)
Meanwhile, Stanford has been as bad as their record would suggest, if not worse. If there's any reason to be intrigued by Stanford in 2024, it's that they return a whopping 72nd-ranked letterman and have one of the best wide receivers in the ACC in Eric Ayomanor. Outside of that, head coach Troy Taylor is in his second year and has a very tough rebuild ahead of him as the team enters the ACC.
(Photo by Ken Ruinard – USA TODAY Sports)
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