The ACC Football Kickoff wrapped up on July 17, and many exciting narratives emerged from this batch. Darian Mensah explained why he transferred, Brent Key expressed extreme confidence in the Yellow Jackets, and Kevin Jennings discussed his behind-the-back pass.
With the ACC Media Days, the ACC Preseason Ballot officially came out as well, with several votes cast for different schools. I got to choose my order of ACC teams along with my All-ACC Preseason team. Here’s a look at my first ACC Power Rankings, which double as my 2026 ACC Preseason ballot.
ACC Football: Owen Hillman’s 2026 Preseason Ballot
No. 17: Boston College Eagles
- Last Season: 2-10 (1-7 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 4-8
- Floor: 1-11
- Coach: Bill O’Brien (9-16, 3rd Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Mason McKenzie, QB
- Defensive Player to Watch: KJ Sampson, DT
The Boston College Eagles didn’t show a ton to prove they’re even a bowl-eligible team this season, let alone an ACC football contender. They showed a quality passing attack, with Dylan Lonergan, Lewis Bond, and Reed Harris covering up a rough running game last season.
Now, all of those players are gone, and their starting running back from last season fled as well. Mason McKenzie is an interesting name to keep an eye on, with Trinidad Chambliss becoming such a success at Ole Miss. Does McKenzie break out at the Power 4 level like Chambliss before him? He’ll at least give them a better option on the ground, with 662 yards and six touchdowns at Saginaw Valley State.
Still, the Eagles need more competent play from both of their lines to have a shot at relevance. Their offensive line was one of the biggest reasons why their running game was bad last season, and a ton of transfers are coming in to fortify that group.
Their defense, as a whole, was rough, finishing 128th in the nation in total defense. Veteran defensive coordinator Ted Roof comes in to try to fix the problem, but it should start with the front four. Nobody last season generated more than 2.5 sacks, and the run defense allowed 200 yards
The linebackers (Anthony Palano, Kris Jones) should help in this regard, but defensive tackle KJ Sampson will be a big part of this team. The transfer from Florida State has the pass-rushing chops to be an all-around nose tackle, and he can help stabilize the defensive line too.
Still, Boston College’s schedule doesn’t look too friendly. Their only sure win is at Maine, while Rutgers and Cincinnati are tossups, especially with Rutgers starter Dylan Lonergan potentially looking for revenge. They also have to play Miami, SMU, Notre Dame, and Georgia Tech on the road, with Pitt and Florida State at home. I don’t see them winning a single ACC game, although that game against Syracuse is up for grabs.
Final Record Prediction: 1-11, 0-8 in ACC
No. 16: Stanford Cardinal
- Last Season: 4-8 (3-5 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 4-8
- Floor: 1-11
- Coach: Tavita Pritchard (1st Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Micah Ford, RB
- Defensive Player to Watch: Tevarua Tafiti, EDGE
The Stanford Cardinal were a decent spoiler for a few teams in the ACC, essentially ending Florida State’s and Cal’s seasons with upset victories. However, they also still have a ton to work on to become legitimate contenders in the ACC.
The passing game is going to take a while to develop, even with Tavita Pritchard at the helm. Davis Warren came off very well-spoken and knowledgeable at ACC Media Days. However, he hasn’t played a game since 2024, a year when he threw seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. They also lost tight end Sam Roush, who was a major contributor in the passing game last season.
The running game should at least look competent again, with Micah Ford potentially fighting for an All-ACC spot next season. They also returned a lot of their offensive line, with Niki Prongos also in contention for a similar spot.
The defense has a ton of continuity still, especially in the linebacker group, which returns Matt Rose and Jahsiah Galvan. However, their pass rush and secondary need to improve over last season.
Tevarua Tafiti has been a solid contributor, making 119 tackles with eight sacks and 18.5 tackles over the past three seasons at Stanford, but he has a higher floor to clear. Their secondary gave up 289 passing yards per game last season, so some more stops from Jay Green and company will go a long way to shoring up the defense.
Still, Stanford’s schedule doesn’t look too favorably on them. They also play Miami, Notre Dame, SMU, and Georgia Tech, along with Louisville and NC State. I could see them potentially upsetting a team with a weaker passing attack, like Wake Forest or Virginia Tech, but that’s about it.
Final Record Prediction: 2-10, 1-8 in ACC
No. 15: North Carolina Tarheels
- Last Season: 4-8 (2-6 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 4-8
- Floor: 2-10
- Coach: Bill Belichick (4-8, 2nd Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Jordan Shipp, WR
- Defensive Player to Watch: Donovan Hoilette Jr., EDGE
Bill Belichick’s first season with the North Carolina Tar Heels couldn’t go any worse. Their offense was one of the worst in the league, holding back a quietly decent defense. As a result, Belichick brought in Bobby Petrino, who did great work with the Arkansas Razorbacks’ offense.
I’m not sure how much Billy Edwards Jr. brings, considering he had just 16 pass attempts last season. Star recruit Travis Burgess is an interesting name to watch if Edwards Jr. stalls out. Regardless, Jordan Shipp’s development will be critical in the passing game. He’s threatened to be an All-ACC player, with 671 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore last season. He will be the No. 1 threat going into next season.
Defensively, the Tar Heels were solid, giving up the lowest amount of points (294) since 2009. However, they l0st a lot via the transfer portal and the draft. Belichick can still coach up a good secondary, but the front seven will need to generate more pressure.
This is where Donovan Hoilette Jr. comes in. He was a terror for the Richmond Spiders last season, with 48 tackles, nine sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hurries. He’ll need to be the leader of the defensive line.
Still, like the two teams before them, UNC has a tough draw. Miami, Louisville, and Notre Dame play at home, and while there’s a chance Cristobal drops an easily winnable game, I don’t see that happening here. The Tar Heels also have to travel to Ireland to face TCU, and they have road games against Clemson, Pitt, UConn, and Virginia. Even with a few upset wins, I just don’t see them putting it together this season.
Final Record: 3-9, 1-7 in ACC
No. 14 Syracuse Orange
- Last Season: 3-9 (1-7 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 6-6
- Floor: 2-10
- Coach: Fran Brown (13-12, 3rd Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Calvin Russell, WR
- Defensive Player to Watch: Chris Peal, CB
The Orange quickly unraveled after losing quarterback Steve Angelli. He went down after leading the team to an upset win over Clemson and a 3-1 record. However, once he went down the team went winless. Now that Angelli is back, does Fran Brown regain his mojo?
Unfortunately, it may be wish-casting. The receiving core looks solid around him. However, the running game might take a bit to recover, with Yasin Willis departing to Kansas. Ahmad Miller is a solid hard-nose runner, though.
Defensively, they should be better, with Toledo DC Vince Kehres manning the helm. They have loads of talent in the linebacker core, with Antoine Deslauriers and Gary Bryant III coming back, plus Chris D’Appolonia joining Kehres from Toledo. The secondary has to play much better, though, and that’s going to fall on the shoulders of Chris Peal. He had massive potential coming out of Georgia, and Fran Brown recruited him when Brown was a DBs coach. Peal will need to realize that.
Still, Syracuse profiles as a fun, boom-or-bust football team that probably falls well short of the ACC Championship picture. They could steal another win from Clemson, or one from Cal or Virginia. However, they still have to play SMU, Louisville, and Notre Dame at home too. It’s an incredibly back-loaded schedule, and if Angelli gets hurt at the beginning of the season again, it could get ugly.
Final Record Prediction: 5-7, 3-6 in ACC
No. 13: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- Last Season: 9-4 (4-4 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 8-4
- Floor: 4-8
- Coach: Jake Dickert (9-4, 2nd Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Ty Clark II, RB
- Defensive Player to Watch: Langston Hardy, EDGE
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons spent the entire season proving everyone wrong. Instead of being at the bottom of the ACC like many predicted, they soared to an 8-4 regular season record and then won a bowl game against an SEC opponent.
This season, they’re going to have to prove doubters, including me, wrong again. They’re probably going to get better quarterback play from Gio Lopez than Robby Ashford and DeShawn Purdie, which isn’t saying much.
That may not matter much on the offensive end because it was the running game that piloted their offense last season. Wake Forest was went 7-1 when running for 130 yards or more, but All-ACC running back (he was the AP on the first All-ACC team) Demond Claibourne got drafted, so they may be back to the drawing board. Is Ty Clark II an adequate replacement?
Defensively, they should once again have one of the best front sevens in the ACC. Langston Hardy should be a leader in this regard. Their linebackers are stupendous, their safeties are awesome, and they smartly invested in corner in the transfer portal.
However, I don’t like their schedule entering this season. They’re a popular candidate to upset Mario Cristobal and Miami, but do they take a road game against Louisville, SMU, Georgia Tech, Cal, or N.C. State? Time will tell, but my gut tells me they’re not going to do well in those games, so that holds them back from the upper echelon.
Final Record Prediction: 6-6, 3-6 in ACC
No. 12: Duke Blue Devils
- Last Season: 9-5 (6-2 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 9-3
- Floor: 5-7
- Coach: Manny Diaz (18-9, 2nd Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Walker Eget, QB
- Defensive Player to Watch: Nick Morris, LB
Similar to Wake Forest, Duke is another team many, including me, are doubting. After all, they won the ACC Championship and went 9-5, just one loss worse than Manny Diaz’s first season. He seems to get the most out of the Blue Devils.
However, they’ll have a major change at quarterback, going from Darian Mensah to Walker Eget. Nobody’s asking Eget to match Mensah’s production. However, he has 30 touchdowns to 19 interceptions over the last two seasons. Limiting the turnovers will go a long way for him. He could also hand the ball to Nathan Sheppard, who will be great this season.
Eget will have to deal with a mostly new receiving core as well. Cooper Bartake is gone with Mensah, but Jared Richardson is an All-Ivy League player from Penn. Tight end Jeremiah Hasley is one of the best in the league too.
Defensively, I’m trusting a lot in Diaz to right the ship. They lost Vincent Anthony, Chandler Rivers, and Wesley Williams, but the pass rush and linebackers are always good in his system. Nick Morris staying healthy will be a major bonus too, and Luke Mergott has All-ACC potential.
The secondary was quietly a big issue last season. Duke had the third-worst pass defense in America, allowing 276.8 yards per game, and Rivers is gone, along with top safety Caleb Weaver. Ché Ojarikre is a name to watch coming from Stanford.
Still, similar to Wake Forest, I’m not in love with their schedule, especially on the back end. They have to play Virginia, Miami, at NC State, Clemson, and at Wake Forest in their last six games, and that doesn’t bode well for their chances to repeat. Hopefully, their Charmin-soft start to the season can pilot them to a bowl game, but I have my doubts about any more than that.
Final Record Prediction: 6-6, 4-5 in ACC
No. 11: Florida State Seminoles
- Last Season: 5-7 (2-6 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 8-4
- Floor: 3-9
- Coach: Mike Norvell (38-34, 7th Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Ashton Daniels, QB
- Defensive Player to Watch: Mandrell Desir, DE
The Seminoles and Mike Norvell are entering a critical season. Norvell’s program has floundered since its College Football Playoff snub, but there’s still enough talent for the Seminoles to tease that form now and then.
Their offense has a lot of pieces, but Ashton Daniels needs to be the most important one. Daniels is mobile and has deep-throw ability. He has a two-headed monster in the running game, with Quintrevion Wisner and Ousmane Kromah in the backfield. Duce Robinson, Micahi Danzy, and Jayvan Boggs could be one of the best receiver trios in the ACC as well.
However, the Seminoles lack star power on defense. They lost a TON of transfers on the defensive side, and a guy like Mandrell Desir Jr. will have to be a leader early on. They made some smart additions to the linebacker room (Mikai Gbayor from North Carolina and Chris Jones from Southern Miss) but their secondary will have to rely on Ashlynn Barker and Ja’Bril Rawls stepping up.
Unfortunately, their schedule is absolutely rough. They have SMU, Alabama, Virginia, Louisville, and Miami as their first five Power 4 opponents. After the bye, they play Clemson, Pitt, NC State, and Florida among others. That is incredibly difficult, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Norvell is canned after a rough start to the season and Florida State falls to the bottom of the ACC. The talent on offense should lead to an upset win or two, especially at Doak.
Final Record Prediction: 6-6, 4-4 in ACC
No. 10: Virginia Cavaliers
- Last Season: 11-3 (7-1 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 10-2
- Floor: 6-6
- Coach: Tony Elliott (22-26, 5th Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Monroe Mills, OT
- Defensive Player to Watch: Brandyn Hillman, S
The Virginia Cavaliers had their best season in franchise history last season. They went 11-3 and were just an overtime stop away from making the CFP. It was unthinkable, but can they cross the finish line this season?
Unfortunately, most of the offensive pieces are gone. J’Mari Taylor’s loss stings the most, but Peyton Lewis has some pedigree coming from the Tennessee Volunteers. Jekail Middlebrook was also solid coming out of Middle Tennessee.
Chandler Morris is also gone, replaced by Beau Pribula. Trell Harris transferred to Oklahoma, and one of Rico Flores Jr. or Da’Shawn Martin will have to replace his impact.
One feather in the Cavaliers’ cap is that most of their offensive line is returning from last season. Monroe Mills is worthy of a highlight. The Louisville, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State transfer has NFL size (6-foot-7, 322 pounds) but injuries took a toll on him last season. If he can stay healthy, this Cavaliers offensive line could be one of the best in the ACC.
Defensively, the front four should be great in stopping the run, and linebackers Kam Robinson and Maddox Marcellus are rock solid. However, the secondary is all about the transfers. Brandyn Hillman could be an All-ACC member, coming from Michigan. He showed development in that secondary room, with 49 tackles with an interception, and three PBUs in his third season. Can he and the rest of the defense generate more takeaways?
Unfortunately, I still feel like this is a step-back season for them. The team was overwhelmingly consistent last season, and I don’t know if they can reach that same level this season. They’re going to start 3-1 at worst, in my opinion, but road games against Florida State, SMU, and Wake Forest could give them trouble. It doesn’t help that they also play the Virginia Tech Hokies on the road.
Final Record Prediction: 7-5, 4-5 in ACC
No. 9: Virginia Tech Hokies
- Last Season: 3-9 (2-6 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 9-3
- Floor: 5-7
- Coach: James Franklin (1st Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Que’Sean Brown, WR
- Defensive Player to Watch: Cam Chadwick, CB
The Virginia Tech Hokies made a big swing by hiring James Franklin, and it was well-warranted. The program has been distant from the relevance Bobby Beamer gave them, with coaches like Justin Fuente and Brent Pry not turning the program around.
Franklin can do that, and Virginia Tech is taking back some talent from last season, including Pry now as defensive coordinator. Marcellous Hawkins is a great returner from last season, and Ayden Greene led the team in receiving yards last season. Que’Sean Brown should be an impact transfer right off the bat.
I think the defense should actually be better with Pry focusing specifically on the defense. Kemauri Copeland has NFL potential, and the linebackers should be great. However, the secondary will need to step up and generate turnovers. Cam Chadwick is a big get in this regard because he had four interceptions.
It’ll take a bit before the talent level rises to the standards of Franklin teams in the past, but they should take some strides from last season. I have them winning all of their ACC games minus their road games against Cal, Clemson, Miami, and SMU. Penn State was 7-6 in their first two seasons under Franklin, so it seems on par for Virginia Tech to finish around that spot.
Final Record Prediction: 7-5, 5-4 in ACC
No. 8: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- Last Season: 9-4 (6-2 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 10-2
- Floor: 6-6
- Coach: Brent Key (27-20, 4th Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Alberto Mendoza, QB
- Defensive Player to Watch: Noah Carter, EDGE
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were a few rough games in the back end away from winning the ACC and getting a CFP spot. A year later, even without starting quarterback Haynes King, head coach Brent Key is adamant that the Yellow Jackets should still be taken seriously as a championship contender.
It really depends on what the Yellow Jackets get from Alberto Mendoza, brother of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. Sure, Alberto has a great running game to help him out, with Justice Haynes potentially being a better partner to Malachi Hosley than Jamal Haynes. Alberto also has a great offensive line, even with the loss of Keylan Rutledge, and their receiving core is alright too. However, the final piece in the puzzle will be the untested Mendoza.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets return a ton of talent, with Kyle Efford and E.J. Lightsey returning in the linebacker room. That’s key in Jason Semore’s defense, considering his expertise is in linebackers. Takeaways were a big part of Georgia Tech’s defense, and that should continue.
However, the front four is really boom-or-bust. The transfers are of high quality: Jordan Walker from Rutgers, Taje McCoy from Oklahoma State, and Tawfiq Thomas from Colorado should be good. However, a guy like Noah Carter from Alabama breaking out will go a long way for the defense.
Georgia Tech’s schedule is rough, but I like their odds. They have just one game that isn’t with a Power 4 opponent, but with the returning talent, they should show inklings of a championship contender again.
Final Record Prediction: 7-5, 5-3 in ACC
No. 7: California Golden Bears
- Last Season: 7-6 (4-4 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 9-3
- Floor: 5-7
- Coach: Tosh Lupoi (1st Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Ian Strong, WR
- Defensive Player to Watch: Daniel Harris, CB
Cal is the ACC’s preseason darling: a team that has a ton of interesting parts, but not a ton of tangible results. Last season was the first time since 2019 that they had a winning record, and they haven’t had 10 wins in a season since 2006.
Still, the ingredients are pretty dang good. Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele was an awesome quarterback as a true freshman, and he was even better on tape. Adam Mohammed had some great games at Washington, and Ian Strong (Rutgers) and Chris Matthews (Ohio) were legitimate alpha receivers from their previous schools.
Defensively, Tosh Lupoi should shape up the group. The defensive backs are very intriguing, especially Daniel Harris, a corner at Georgia who stayed in phase but never developed great ball skills. However, it’s still uncertain where the pass-rush will come from. Does it come from Nate Burrell, a defensive end who didn’t play in 2025? Does it come from linebacker Jayden Wayne, who’s been steadily progressing recently? Or, does it come from one of the many transfers from Oregon or Texas A&M?
At the very least, Cal gets a ridiculously easy schedule. Outside of a rough road trip against SMU, NC State, and Virginia, most of their ACC games are played in the California night. If they can get through that stretch, they could surprise many people in the ACC
Final Record Prediction: 8-4, 5-4 in ACC
No. 6: N.C. State Wolfpack
- Last Season: 8-5 (4-4 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 11-1
- Floor: 6-6
- Coach: Dave Doeren (95-70, 14th Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Keenan Jackson, WR
- Defensive Player to Watch: King Mack, S
NC State has been a dependable team over the last couple of seasons, but they’ve failed to get over the hump. They had a brutal stretch against Duke, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, and Pitt in the middle of the season, but they found their mojo, upsetting the No. 8 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and beating their last three opponents to end the season on a strong note.
This season, I believe they can go a little further. That’s even considering they’ve lost a ton of talent on offense, with Hollywood Smothers (Texas), Terrell Anderson (USC) and Justin Joly (NFL) all gone. Duke Scott has what it takes to take the mantle, Keenan Jackson has chemistry with C.J. Bailey, and Jojo Trader from Miami has a lot of raw upside. The offensive line returns a lot of talent, even after losing Jacarrius Peak (South Carolina).
However, the defense will need to be a lot better in DC D.J. Eliot’s second season at the helm. The linebacker group should be locked in, with Popo Aguirre (Miami) and DaKaari Nelson (Penn State) joining Jackson Vick in that group. The secondary is interesting, with transfers King Mack (Penn State) and Ondre Evans (Georgia) looking to make an impact too.
A big reason why I have them so high is their schedule. They do have to go to Vanderbilt, and it’s never easy to beat an SEC team. They also travel to play Virginia in game 1 and play Louisville at home in the middle of the season. Outside of that, their schedule is extremely friendly, and I see them taking advantage.
Final Record Prediction: 8-4, 5-4 in ACC
No. 5: Pitt Panthers
- Last Season: 8-5 (6-2 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 10-2
- Floor: 6-6
- Coach: Pat Narduzzi (80-61, 12th Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Catarius Hicks, WR
- Defensive Player to Watch: Braylan Lovelace, MLB
Similar to NC State, Pitt has been ol’ reliable under Pat Narduzzi. They’ve only had two losing seasons in 12 years under his watch, but they’ve only crossed the nine-win plateau twice in his tenure.
Part of that has been their propensity to show a Jekyll-and-Hyde form. It was on full display last season, with the team losing to Louisville and mediocre West Virginia to start things off. Then, they looked like the best football team in the ACC for five games before losing three of four to close out the year.
Well, Mason Heintschel is back. When Heintschel was slinging it, Pitt looked like a much better football team, and he should only improve in season No. 2. So should Ja’Kyrian Turner, who is lightning fast and is free from sharing carries with Desmond Reid.
The receiver room and offensive line are of a little concern. Malik Knight was a strong receiver at Western Carolina, and Catarius Hicks had some takeover games, but who’s going to step up as the No. 1 receiver threat for Heintschel? Ryan Baer returns on the offensive line, but the line is full of transfers, and they were one of the worst last season.
Defensively, it should be exactly what you’d expect from a Narduzzi defense. The front four is returning so much talent, and in an age with transfer portal madness, it’s unfair. I’d be shocked if Pitt isn’t first or second in the ACC in sacks and pressures this season.
The linebacker core is something to monitor. Although it should be very good with Braylan Lovelace taking the next step, it’s not the premier duo of Rasheem Biles and Kyle Louis anymore.
One thing going for Pitt is their ridiculously easy schedule. They start off with Miami (OH), UCF, Syracuse, and Bucknell, all at home. If they don’t go 4-0 at the beginning of the year, something went ridiculously wrong. They have road games against Louisville, Miami, and upstart Cal this season, but they get to play Florida State and Georgia Tech at home. Their schedule is as friendly as it gets, and I think this could be a special year for them if the dice fall correctly.
Final Record Prediction: 8-4, 5-4 in ACC
No. 4: Clemson Tigers
- Last Season: 7-6 (4-4 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 9-3
- Floor: 6-6
- Coach: Dabo Swinney (187-53, 19th Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Chris Vizzina, QB
- Defensive Player to Watch: Sammy Brown Jr., MLB
Is this too high for a Clemson team that went 7-6 last season with several top NFL draft picks on their roster? Maybe, but I’m not one to doubt Dabo Swinney can turn the ship around somewhat this season.
The Tigers bring in Chad Morris to replace Garrett Riley, and contrary to popular belief, I like the hire. Morris’s offense will be much quicker-paced than Riley’s. It all depends on Chris Vizzina, though. He’s got a potentially electrifying running back in Gideon Davidson (who wasn’t used enough last season), and a receiving core featuring dependable pass-catchers T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco, along with true freshman Naeem Burroughs and tight end Olsen Patt-Henry. The offensive line loses Blake Miller, but it has the depth and size to be a strong suit of the team.
However, everything else will need to shore up in Tom Allen’s second season as DC. His hiring was a big deal for this team, and he needs to show improvement in Year 2. The pass rush should show up, with Will Heldt and Jamiem Lawson wrecking offensive linemen again. The linebacker core should be terrific, led by Sammy Brown Jr., who should be one of the best defensive players in the ACC again. They supplanted the secondary with some good transfers, including Ashton Hampton from Penn State, but they desperately need a reboot.
Overall, Clemson doesn’t have a terribly difficult ACC schedule. There are still some challenging games, such as road games against LSU and Cal and a home game against Miami. However, they get to play against Georgia Tech at home this season too, and they miss out on SMU and Louisville. I think they show inklings of the juggernaut they once were in seasons past.
Final Record Prediction: 8-4, 5-3 in ACC
No. 3: Louisville Cardinals
- Last Season: 9-4 (4-4 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 11-1
- Floor: 7-5
- Coach: Jeff Brohm (28-12, 4th Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Isaac Brown, RB
- Defensive Player to Watch: AJ Green, EDGE
Last season for the Louisville Cardinals felt like a worst-case scenario, even if they did end up going 9-4. Many predicted them to be the preseason’s No. 2 ACC team behind Clemson, but some shocking losses to Louisville, Cal, Clemson, and SMU dashed their playoff chances. It felt like a worst-case scenario due to their offense not packing the punch it usually does under Brohm.
Now, Brohm is giving the keys to Lincoln Kienholz, a quarterback who threw fewer than 50 passes at Ohio State. It’s different from the norm of his past starting quarterbacks, who are normally transfers that have a ton of experience. However, Kienholz is mobile, and he has an All-ACC running back in Isaac Brown to help him.
The interior of the offensive line should be great again, but the tackles are a little questionable. Anwar O’neal was hurt during spring practices, and with the team allowing 25 sacks last season, O’neal will need to shape up with the rest of the line.
Defensively, Louisville should be set. Pass rushers Clev Lubin and AJ Green both have NFL and All-ACC potential, and Louisville has arguably the best passing defense in the entire ACC, although there are a ton of transfers in the defensive back room. Their linebacker core is great too.
The Cardinals have a pretty tough schedule, though. They play Ole Miss in Nashville at the beginning of the season, along with SMU at home and NC State at the road. They also play Georgia Tech, Pitt, and an improving Kentucky team. They’re a big boom-or-bust team, but I think they should boom.
Final Record Prediction: 8-4, 6-3 in ACC
No. 2: SMU Mustangs
- Last Season: 9-4 (6-2 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 11-1
- Floor: 9-3
- Coach: Rhett Lashlee (38-16, 4th Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Yannick Smith, WR
- Defensive Player to Watch: Jarvis Lee, CB
The SMU Mustangs are a tier above any other team in the ACC. They have a shot at competing for a playoff berth as well as an ACC title.
The returners on offense are a big reason why. Kevin Jennings might be the most accomplished quarterback returning to his squad this season. The offensive line, full of All-ACC caliber players last season, is nearly all back. The running game should be alright with transfer running back Kendrick Raphael rushing for 943 yards and 13 touchdowns at Cal.
The receiving core is a legitimate gripe, though. Does a guy like Yannick Smith from ECU break out, or does the production come from sophomore Jalen Cooper? I expect Jennings to make it work, but losing Romello Brinson and Jordan Hudson (no, not that one) stings.
The defensive line looks rebuilt through the transfer portal, with Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder (Kansas State), Marques White (UMass), and Ira Singleton (USF) ready to contribute off the bat. The linebacker core should be the best in the ACC, with Alex Kilgore and Brandon Booker both back.
One big issue, however, is secondary play. It was a hot mess last season, but Isaiah Nwokobia made so many plays on the SMU defense, and he’s gone. Ahmaad Moses will do his best, but the pass defense was atrocious last season, allowing 283 passing yards per game. Getting a guy like USF transfer Jarvis Lee helps.
Still, SMU feels like a tier above the rest of the ACC (except for one team). Notre Dame is the only team on their schedule I think beats them, although Florida State or Louisville could give them trouble on the road early on. Still, SMU should be thinking College Football Playoff this season.
Final Record Prediction: 11-1, 8-0 in ACC
No. 1: Miami Hurricanes
- Last Season: 13-3 (6-2 in ACC)
- Ceiling: 12-0
- Floor: 10-2
- Coach: Mario Cristobal (35-19, 5th Season)
- Offensive Player to Watch: Mark Fletcher Jr., RB
- Defensive Player to Watch: Mohamed Toure, LB
There’s one thing on the mind of everyone who follows Miami: revenge. They were just one drive away from winning the national championship last season, but Cristobal and company believe that last season was just the start.
They upgraded from Carson Beck last season with Duke transfer Darian Mensah, who led the ACC and nearly led the league in passing yards (3,973). Mark Fletcher Jr. was the focal point of the offense during the College Football Playoff, so he should approach 1,000 yards this season. Plus, c’mon, they have Malachi Toney and Duke transfer Cooper Bartake. The skill positions feel so ahead of any team in the ACC.
The offensive line is a caution point, though. Yes, Cristobal can coach a good offensive line from anywhere, but nearly all of their line last season went to the NFL. Sure, they return Ryan Rodriguez and Matthew McCoy, but how does true freshman tackle Jackson Cantwell respond to the pressure?
The defensive line should be alright, even with the loss of Reuben Bain and Akheem Mesidor. The defensive tackle room is awesome, and Damon Wilson II is the next elite edge rusher in this group. The linebacker group brings back major contributor Mohamed Toure, and Chase Smith has been anxiously waiting for his turn.
However, the secondary will be interesting to monitor. Losing Jakobe Thomas and Keionte Scott hurts. Bryce Fitzgerald and Zechariah Poyser are great, but those are big shoes to fill.
Still, Miami should be a College Football Playoff team at worst. None of their road games are difficult except Notre Dame and maybe Clemson. If they don’t finish at least 10-2, something went super wrong. It would be hilarious.
Owen’s All-ACC Team
Offense
Miami Hurricanes receiver Malachi Toney (10) catches a 36-yard touchdown against the Ole Miss Rebels during their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Jan. 8, 2026.[/caption]
- Quarterback: Darian Mensah, Miami
- Running Back: Isaac Brown, Louisville (also Player Of The Year)
- Wide Receiver: Malachi Toney, Miami
- Wide Receiver: Duce Robinson, Florida State
- Wide Receiver: Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson
- Tight End: Jeremiah Hasley, Duke
- All-Purpose: Malachi Toney, Miami
- Left Tackle: Niki Prongos, Stanford
- Left Guard: Addison Nichols, SMU
- Center: Tyson Ruffins, Cal
- Right Guard: Eryx Daugherty, Louisville
- Right Tackle: PJ Williams, SMU
Defense
Nov 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Kyle Efford (44) tackles running back Josh McCray (2) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
- Edge Rusher: Damon Wilson II, Miami
- Edge Rusher: Clev Lubin, Louisville
- Defensive Tackle: Kemauri Copeland, Virginia Tech
- Defensive Tackle: Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami
- Linebacker: Sammy Brown, Clemson
- Linebacker: Brandon Booker, SMU
- Linebacker: Kyle Efford, Georgia Tech
- Cornerback: Xavier Lucas, Miami
- Cornerback: Chris Peal, Syracuse
- Safety: Tae Harris, Georgia Tech
- Safety: Bryce Fitzgerald, Miami
Special Teams
Nov 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets kicker Aidan Birr (33) celebrates after a field goal with punter Marshall Nichols (47) against the Georgia Bulldogs in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
- Kicker: Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech
- Punter: Daniel Sparks, Virginia
- Return Specialist: Tre Richardson, Louisville
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