ACC Championship: Clemson over Florida State

1. Clemson Tigers

Projected Record: 11-2

Wins: Duke, Charleston Southern, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Syracuse, Wake Forest, NC State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Florida State (ACC Championship)

Losses: Miami, North Carolina

Clemson is revamping their offense with new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. Cade Klubnik takes over at quarterback and if they find a wide receiver to step up, this offense should be much improved. On defense, there will be also improvement with Tyler Davis and Peter Woods on the interior defensive line and returning the entire secondary. Clemson is the team to beat in the ACC, not Florida State.

2. Florida State Seminoles

Projected Record: 9-4

Wins: Southern Miss, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Duke, Wake Forest, Miami, North Alabama, Florida

Losses: LSU, Clemson, Pittsburgh, Clemson (ACC Championship)

Florida State hit the transfer portal hard and strengthened their wide receiving room (Keon Coleman -MSU), tight end room and defensive line. Add in expereinced players Jordan Travis, Trey Benson, and Jared Verse… this is a very good team ready to make the jump. Now is that a jump to ACC champs remains the question.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels

Projected Record: 8-4

Wins: Appalachian State, Minnesota, Syracuse, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Campbell, Duke, Clemson

Losses: South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Miami, NC State

North Carolina can be summed up as having a very good offense (would be better if Tez Walker received a transfer clearance) and below average defense. However, the defense should improve with everyone in the front seven that played 200 snaps being back. Drake Maye can carry this team to eight wins.

4. Miami Hurricanes

Projected Record: 8-4

Wins: Miami (Ohio), Bethune-Cookman, Temple, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Clemson, Virginia, Louisville

Losses: Texas A&M, NC State, Florida State, Boston College

Miami will make a massive improvement mostly because they finally have some dudes on the offensive line (Matt Lee – UCF, Javion Cohen – Alabama, Francis Mauigoa – FIve Star Freshman). With Tyler Van Dyke improving after a rocky sophomore season and the defensive transfer additions, this team is going to go at least bowling.

5. Pittsburgh Panthers

Projected Record: 8-4

Wins: Wofford, Cincinnati, West Virginia, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Florida State, Boston College

Losses: Wake Forrest, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Duke

Expect your classic hard-nosed Pitt team. But also with some improvement since Phil Jurkovic takes over for Kedon Slovis at quarterback. Pitt will be a tough out in the ACC.

6. NC State Wolfpack

Projected Record: 8-4

Wins: UConn, Notre Dame, VMI, Virginia, Louisville, Marshall, Miami, North Carolina

Losses: Duke, Clemson, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech

Brennan Armstrong comes in to take over at quarterback with his former offensive coordinator Robert Anai. I also really like the defense as they have one of the best corner tandems in the nation. The Wolfpack need to figure out something at WR, but overall expect a solid season.

7. Louisville Cardinals

Projected Record: 7-5

Wins: Georgia Tech, Murray State, Indiana, Boston College, Duke, Virginia Tech, Virginia

Losses: NC State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Miami, Kentucky

It is year one back at his alma matter for coach Brohm. He will get this offense going right a way. If the defense can also get rolling, and with their very easy ACC schedule… this team could have a decent amount of wins.

8. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Projected Record: 7-5

Wins: Elon, Old Dominion, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, NC State, Syracuse

Losses: Vanderbilt, Clemson, Florida State, Duke, Notre Dame

Wake Forrest loses Sam Hartman, which is a huge loss, but I just expect Wake Forest to continue to make bowls especially in a weak ACC. The loss of wide receiver Donovan Greene does hurt quite a bit.

9. Duke Blue Devils

Projected Record: 7-5

Wins: Lafayette, Northwestern, UConn, NC State, Wake Forrest, Virginia, Pittsburgh

Losses: Clemson, Notre Dame, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina

There is a lot to like about this Duke team especially with Riley Leonard and all of their receivers back. The Blue Devils will actually be better than they were last year… but their schedule is brutal. It will be tough for them to make a bowl, but I trust coach Mike Elko.

10. Syracuse Orange

Projected Record: 6-6

Wins: Colgate, Western Michigan, Army, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech

Losses: Purdue, Clemson, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest

Syracuse lost some really good transfers to some major programs and also some key offensive linemen to the draft. But with Garrett Shrader back, they’ll be good enough to make a bowl game.

11. Boston College Eagles

Projected Record: 6-6

Wins: Northern Illinois, Holy Cross, Virginia, Army, UConn, Miami

Losses: Florida State, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh

Boston College was starting defensive players at offensive line last season after suffering several injuries. Expect the offense and defense to be improved and this team to fight for a bowl game.

12. Virginia Tech Hokies

Projected Record: 5-7

Wins: Old Dominion, Marshall, Syracuse, NC State, Virginia

Losses: Purdue, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Florida State, Wake Forrest, Louisville, Boston College

The transfer quarterback could not beat incumbent starter Grant Wells. That is not a good sign. Overall, expect the Hokies to be led by their defense in a struggle for a bowl game.

13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Projected Record: 4-8

Wins: South Carolina State, Bowling Green, Boston College, Virginia

Losses: Louisville, Ole Miss, Wake Forrest, Miami, North Carolina, Clemson, Syracuse, Georgia

Haynes King takes over as the starting quarterback after transfering from A&M. While the offensive line is experienced and the receiver room should be improved, defensively they lost too much. With a tough schedule it will be tough for the Yellow Jackets to make a bowl game.

14. Virginia Cavaliers

Projected Record: 2-10

Wins: James Madison, William & Mary

Losses: Tennessee, Maryland, NC State, Boston College, North Carolina, Miami, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Duke, Virginia Tech

This team is really bad and Tony Elliott’s offense offers no upside.

TEAM THAT PLAYS AN ACC SCHEDULE BUT REFUSES TO JOIN THE CONFERENCE

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Projected Record: 9-3

Wins: Navy, Tennessee State, Central Michigan, Duke, Louisville, USC, Pittsburgh, Wake Forrest, Stanford

Losses: NC State, Ohio State, Clemson

This is a very strong team that will rely on a solid defense and experienced offensive line. Oh and transfer quarterback Sam Hartman helps. The Fighting Irish will make a massive jump from last year’s offensive performance and be a top 15 team in the country.