Following an impressive season from the ACC, which saw two teams make the College Football Playoff, the upcoming year holds increased expectations for a conference that boasts three teams in ESPN’s Preseason Top 25.
While Clemson impressively turned around their season after a sluggish start, SMU shocked everyone by winning the conference in the regular season before faltering in the ACC Championship and College Football Playoff to Clemson and Penn State, respectively.
With a new year comes a new face, though, bringing newfound glory and potentially disappointment in Year 2 of the expanded playoff format. Here’s one bold prediction for every team in the ACC.
SMU Mustangs
Kevin Jennings Puts Up a Heisman Trophy Finalist Season
A year removed from their stunning run to the top of the conference and a College Football Playoff berth, SMU and head coach Rhett Lashlee look primed to continue their newfound winning ways. Their schedule features two tests in a visit to Death Valley to take on Clemson in mid-October and a tricky early-season road matchup with TCU in September.
Outside of those matchups, though, SMU has a chance to run the table. They return star quarterback Kevin Jennings, along with several talented pass catchers, including Jennings’ No. 1 option, Roderick Daniels Jr.
Their running game will need time to develop, as leading rusher Brashard Smith is now in the NFL. Outside of Jennings himself from last season, the next highest rusher is LJ Johnson Jr., who managed 303 yards and five touchdowns on 74 carries.
Given their seemingly soft schedule and an offense that will rely on Jennings to excel, it isn’t crazy to assume that Jennings could find himself among the Heisman finalists come December.
He’s considered a dark horse by many to make a run at the prestigious award, but his path seems more complicated than it is. If he can limit the turnovers that doomed SMU late in the season, he has a chance to put up video-game numbers for the Mustangs.
Clemson Tigers
Clemson Heads to South Carolina With an Undefeated Record
Clemson’s opening game against Georgia last season raised many questions about whether its run at the top of the college football world was just a short-lived dream. In all fairness, a 34-3 drubbing against a Georgia team that, while great, wasn’t at the same level as recent years deserved those questions.
But Dabo Swinney and Co. flipped the script, fighting their way to the ACC Championship game despite surprising losses to Louisville and South Carolina. Again, though, they rebounded, beating SMU in the ACC Championship game to secure a playoff berth that ultimately saw them fall at the hands of Texas.
This year will be a different story. Clemson opens the season at home against LSU in what’s sure to be a treat for college football fans everywhere. While it certainly won’t be an easy matchup, as HC Brian Kelly and QB Garrett Nussmeier will bring their best, Clemson’s schedule gets significantly easier following it.
The Tigers return weapons across the board. The list features Heisman hopeful Cade Klubnik, their top three leading receivers from last season, including Antonio Williams, defensive end and future first-round pick T.J. Parker, and lockdown corner Avieon Terrell.
They shouldn’t be seriously tested following the LSU matchup until they host SMU in October. Barring a severe misstep, they’ll head into Columbia to take on the Gamecocks with an undefeated record on the line.
Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Miami Finishes the Season .500 At Best
Unfortunately for Miami fans, QB Cam Ward isn’t around to save the day anymore. Ward did everything for the Hurricanes last year, leading to his selection with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft just a few months ago. Also no longer on the roster are leading rusher Damien Martinez and leading receiver Xavier Restrepo.
But a new season brings new faces in today’s era of college football. Notably, former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck will now wear the Miami uniform after signing a lucrative $4M NIL deal to play for the Hurricanes.
He’ll have his work cut out for him, though, with a cast of new teammates and a defense that won’t be nearly as good as Georgia’s last season.
Miami opens with a brutal matchup against Notre Dame in Hard Rock Stadium, followed by winnable games against Bethune-Cookman and South Florida. They then host DJ Lagway and Florida, a game that could decide the narrative of their season. At 3-1, Miami can potentially ride the momentum into a November clash with SMU.
The far more likely outcome is a 2-2 start, followed by a loss on the road to Florida State, wins against Louisville and Stanford at home, and back-to-back losses against SMU and Syracuse. The Hurricanes will be 4-5 heading into their final three games of the season and will need to win two of them to be bowl-eligible.
Syracuse Orange
Steve Angeli Gets Eventual Nod At Starting Quarterback
Transfer quarterbacks and Syracuse go together like peanut butter and jelly. Head coach Fran Brown announced that LSU transfer Rickie Collins would be the starting quarterback, with the Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli as the backup.
Collins served as the backup quarterback for LSU’s Nussmeier last season, posting limited stats in his role. Angeli has a bit more on paper than Collins, given his additional playing time with the Irish. He notably led the team to a victory over Oregon State in the Sun Bowl after throwing for 232 yards and three touchdowns in the game.
Although Collins was the more highly touted recruit coming out of high school, Angeli entered the transfer portal with a higher rating. He has a strong arm, is accurate with the ball, and can escape the pocket when needed. Collins is undoubtedly the more athletic player between the two, but Angeli has proven he knows how to win.
With an opening matchup in Atlanta against Tennessee, all eyes will be on Collins to see if he can prove his worth as a starting quarterback. Angeli will be ready if Collins falters, and won’t return the starting job if allowed to lead. Circle the November 22 road matchup with Notre Dame for a potential revenge situation.
Louisville Cardinals
Isaac Brown and Duke Watson Combine For 2,000 Rushing Yards
Louisville’s season could have been a lot better than the 8-4 regular season record they posted. In their first seven games of the season, they dropped three matchups to ranked opponents — each by just seven points — and suffered a three-point road loss to Stanford in a classic letdown spot, one week after a tough road game at Clemson.
They head into this season with a new quarterback, USC transfer Miller Moss, at the helm, but return their two leading rushers in Isaac Brown and Duke Watson. The duo was deadly last season, with Brown rushing for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns and Watson adding 597 yards and seven touchdowns of his own.
While Moss is a solid replacement for 2024 QB Tyler Shough — who is now in the NFL — Louisville will likely rely much more on its run game throughout the season. They rushed for over 185 yards per game last season, which is expected to jump to over 200 this year.
With Brown and Watson leading the way, there’s a good chance Louisville can make a sneaky run at the ACC crown given their favorable, back-heavy schedule.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech Gets Revenge on Georgia In Regular Season Finale
Despite losing leading receiver Eric Singleton to the transfer portal (Auburn), Georgia Tech returns both Haynes King at quarterback and Jamal Haynes at running back.
Fans will remember last season’s meeting between the Yellow Jackets and the Georgia Bulldogs as an 8OT thriller that ultimately saw Georgia escape with a victory.
Georgia defeats Georgia Tech in 8OT pic.twitter.com/OZS5HPiToz
— Highlight Vault (@HighlightVault) November 30, 2024
This season’s matchup will be different. Tech has a forgiving schedule, with all of its toughest matchups, outside of opening day against Colorado, being played at home. The Yellow Jacket faithful will see the likes of Clemson and Syracuse, among others, with the Georgia matchup scheduled for Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
If King and Haynes can carry the offense as many project them to, it wouldn’t be surprising if the final regular-season game has more on the line than Georgia’s College Football Playoff seeding. Look out for Georgia Tech to make waves in Atlanta and potentially further.
Duke Blue Devils
Duke Starts 4-0, But Doesn’t Their Surpass 2024 Win Total
Duke had an impressive start to the Manny Diaz era, finishing with a 9-3 regular season record. A closer examination of those wins reveals a bit of smoke and mirrors for the Blue Devils. They had just one win over a team that finished with a winning record last year (UConn), and were dismantled by Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl.
In their defense, starting quarterback Maalik Murphy didn’t play in the game, although he wouldn’t have helped the defense that gave up 52 points.
This season brings a new starting signal-caller in the form of Tulane transfer Darian Mensah. Mensah had a big year for the Green Wave last season, throwing for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns while adding one on the ground.
Duke’s opening four-game stretch, featuring Elon, Illinois, Tulane, and NC State, could very well end with the Blue Devils holding a 4-0 record. It gets tougher from there, with matchups against Syracuse, California, Georgia Tech, and Clemson on the schedule. Duke may finish that stretch 1-3, which would see the team unable to surpass their win total, barring a bowl victory and an undefeated stretch to finish.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Kyron Drones Bounces Back, But Medicority Is Still Prominent for Hokies
Virginia Tech is unfortunately stuck in a period of averageness on the football field. While everyone fears “Enter Sandman” and the Hokie home crowd is as electric as ever, the results that follow are often disappointing.
While they were competitive last season in some tough games, a 6-6 regular season followed by a bowl game loss to Minnesota isn’t something to write home about.
This year seems to have a similar outlook. Virginia Tech opens with a neutral-site clash in Atlanta against South Carolina and potential 2026 NFL Draft first-overall pick LaNorris Sellers. Frankly, they have no chance in that game.
Following that, they will have three favorable matchups against Vanderbilt, Old Dominion, and Wofford, all at home, and should head into their clash with NC State with a 3-1 record.
Their schedule is favorable, considering the depth of the ACC this year, and they avoid playing Clemson, SMU, or Syracuse, all of whom finished in the top four in last season’s standings. Quarterback Kyron Drones will look to shake off an injury-plagued season that saw him miss the final three contests of the year.
Drones were electric in 2024, passing for 2,084 yards while adding 818 yards on the ground. Still, he will need to improve in the pass game more than he did last season, as he managed just 2,084 yards while throwing six interceptions.
Boston College Eagles
Boston College Surprises Everyone, Finishes Top-5 in ACC
Boston College was an interesting team last season. They stunned the college football world with their Labor Day victory over Florida State, and opened the season at 5-1 before faltering in their next three games.
Quarterback Thomas Castellanos was electric at the start of the season, but injuries and a benching saw him leave the program entirely midway through the season. His replacement, Grayson James, was impressive in the final four games of the year. In total for the season, James threw for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns.
Despite losing in the Pinstripe Bowl to Nebraska, he threw for 296 yards while also leading the team in rushing.
16. Grayson James, BC (JR, 6’3” 226lbs)
Prior to coming to Boston College in 2024, James spent 3 seasons at FIU. In 2024, he started 5 games for Boston College after the “benching” of Thomas Castellanos. James has potential and could rise in ACC QB Rankings, but for now, there… pic.twitter.com/1GRo87q3QX
— KingSZN (@King_Szn10) July 25, 2025
James will retake the reins this season and has a chance to impress. BC does have a demanding schedule that features the likes of Notre Dame, Louisville, Clemson, and SMU, but of the four, only Louisville will be faced on the road.
Given the backloaded schedule, it’s not out of the question that the Eagles start the season 3-1 or 4-0 before they head into a tricky road test against Pittsburgh and host Clemson in back-to-back weeks. If they can find some momentum, look out.
NC State Wolfpack
Justin Joly Establishes Himself as Top TE in ACC, Maybe Country
NC State had a down year last season after posting at least eight wins in the previous four seasons. Blowout losses against Tennessee and Clemson proved they were at least one cut below the best, and their Military Bowl loss against East Carolina didn’t allow the season to end on a high note despite beating rival North Carolina in the regular season finale.
This season should be better, though, for the ‘Pack. They open with three very winnable games against East Carolina, Virginia, and Wake Forest, and dodge the wrecking balls that are SMU and Clemson entirely. A late-season three-game stretch of Georgia Tech, Miami, and Florida State will be difficult, but they shouldn’t have any issue reaching the eight-win mark.
Despite losing arguably their most talented player, KC Concepcion, in the transfer portal this offseason, tight end Justin Joly and quarterback CJ Bailey return.
Bailey will look to reduce the turnovers that hurt his stat line last season (10 interceptions), but he is very capable of leading the offense and can create outside of the pocket. His 22 touchdowns last season will likely be closer to 30 or more this year.
Joly was excellent for the Wolfpack last year. He led the team in receiving yards and average yards per catch, and was second in receiving touchdowns behind Concepcion. At 6’3, 235 pounds, he possesses the typical NFL build for a tight end.
With the receiving room a bit empty heading into this season, watch out for Joly to post some impressive numbers and establish himself as one of the better tight ends in the country.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Eli Holstein Eclipses 3500 Passing Yards
Last season can be described as a tale of two halves for the Pittsburgh Panthers. Pitt opened the year 7-0 before losing six straight games, including an ugly OT loss to Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. When things were right for the Panthers, they were great. When things were wrong, they were atrocious.
Their schedule was brutal down the stretch, including matchups with SMU, Clemson, and Louisville. Their best win was a 41-13 thumping of Syracuse, which, by the end of the year, proved to be a solid performance. But that win came during their opening streak.
Losses at home against Virginia and on the road against Boston College are unexplainable, and they’ll have to win their “easier” matchups this year if they want to improve their record.
A lot of that lies in the hands of quarterback Eli Holstein. The redshirt-sophomore opened the season scorching, throwing for 1,564 yards and 15 touchdowns against just three interceptions in his first five games of the season.
For comparison, Miami’s Cam Ward threw for 1,782 yards and 18 touchdowns in his first five games and was being touted as a lock for the Heisman trophy.
While injuries and tougher competition hurt Holstein and the Panthers down the stretch, this season has a chance to be a huge one for the Zachary, Louisiana, native. If he can find the form that helped lead Pitt to a 7-0 record, they could very well start this year off the same.
Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Misses Out on a Bowl Game Again
Since 2019, the Virginia Cavaliers haven’t made it into December. They were scheduled to take on SMU in the 2021 Fenway Bowl after finishing the season at 6-6, but the game was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns within the program.
Unfortunately for the Cavalier faithful, 2025 won’t be the year their luck changes. They’re rolling with a new QB this year in the form of North Texas transfer Chandler Morris, and even his notable gun-slinging abilities won’t be enough to contend with a tricky schedule and irreplaceable losses on the defensive side of the ball.
They did well in the transfer portal by bringing in high-level talent at wide receiver, such as Jahamal Edrine from Purdue and Cam Ross from James Madison. Those two, paired with Jayden Thomas from Notre Dame and Morris, highlight an offense that will likely have to put up big numbers this year.
If Virginia can steal wins at North Carolina or Duke, they may have a shot at a bowl game. If not, they may be looking for a new coach next offseason.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Bill Belichick Rides Easy Schedule, Leads Tar Heels to 10 Wins
North Carolina enters the season as the most talked-about team in the ACC for reasons that extend beyond the football field. New head coach Bill Belichick has been a social media “star” this offseason, mainly for having a girlfriend almost a third his age.
Still, he secured some impressive signings via the transfer portal, and North Carolina boasts one of the easiest schedules in the conference.
72-year-old Bill Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, have confirmed they are “overtly committed” to North Carolina 👀 pic.twitter.com/988hsFKqga
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) January 17, 2025
The Tar Heels open the season in a tricky matchup against TCU at home, but if they can escape with a win, there’s no reason they shouldn’t head into their Week 5 matchup against Clemson with a 4-0 record. Their toughest road test is against Syracuse on Halloween, but they avoid playing SMU, Louisville, Miami, and Florida State.
The transfer acquisitions will tell the story for North Carolina this year. Highlighted by former Washington duo Thaddeus Dixon and Khmori House, their defense should be aggressive and force many turnovers.
Replacing star offensive tackle Howard Sampson with almost equally talented tackle Daniel King will allow quarterback Gio Lopez the time he needs to lead the offense.
Lopez, a South Alabama transfer, was impressive last year. He posted over 3,000 combined passing and rushing yards and added 25 touchdowns. While he will be facing stiffer defenses than those in the Sun Belt, he has the skill set to excel in the Tar Heel offense. Look for running back Davion Gause to become a household name by the end of the year.
California Golden Bears
Cal Follows Pittsburgh’s 2024 Path With Hot Start, Miserable Finish
If North Carolina has an easy schedule, then California has a cakewalk. The Golden Bears avoid all the big names in the ACC outside of a late November matchup against Louisville and a regular-season finale against SMU.
That means no Clemson, Miami, or Florida State, and a non-conference schedule in which they should go undefeated.
Cal lost a ton of talent to the transfer portal this offseason, including star running back Jaydn Ott to Oklahoma and quarterback Fernando Mendoza to Indiana.
While they do have two potentially certifiable replacements for Mendoza in Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and former Ohio State prospect Devin Brown, running back will likely be an issue for a team that was miserable in the run game with better talent last year.
Still, the ease of the schedule cannot be overlooked. Cal’s first four games are all winnable, though a road matchup to open the season against Oregon State will be tricky. If they can squeeze by the Beavers, they have a chance to follow Pittsburgh’s path from last year and start the season undefeated. As we know, the Panthers lost their final six games of the season.
While Cal has a chance to win one or even two of its final eight games, the transfer portal losses will prove too much for a program plagued with mediocrity.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Jake Dickert Leads Wake Forest to Refreshingly Strong Season
New Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert will aim to revitalize a program that has struggled to a back-to-back 4-8 seasons. Dickert, the former Washington State head coach, led the Cougars to a surprising 8-0 start last season before losing the final four games of the year.
Washington State’s season was highlighted by an electric offense led by now Oklahoma Sooner quarterback John Mateer, and Dickert will look to replicate that success with Wake Forest. While he won’t have the same level of talent at quarterback, the Demon Deacons have two options via the transfer portal: Deshawn Purdie from Charlotte and Robby Ashford from South Carolina.
Because of the potential lack of reliability from those two options, Dickert will likely lean on senior running back Demond Claiborne to lead the way, who was a bright spot last season for Wake, rushing the ball 228 times for 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 254 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air.
He’ll have to work behind a reconstructed offensive line, but should continue to be a workhorse.
With a more manageable schedule that avoids Clemson and features the toughest matchups at home, Wake Forest should be much improved this year and will likely surprise a few teams.
Stanford Cardinal
Frank Reich and Andrew Luck Not Enough To Make Bowl Game
While Belichick is the most notable name to grace the ACC this season, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich will also lead the Stanford Cardinal this season.
Stanford alum and now general manager of the football program, Andrew Luck, brought in Reich after former coach Troy Taylor was fired. The two will look to help bring Stanford back into the spotlight that Luck helped shine on the program.
Welcome to The Farm, Coach Reich!
🗞️ » https://t.co/QaUfWzLci5#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/hzwvN6cGFR
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) March 31, 2025
However, the Cardinal don’t bring a lot of excitement heading into the 2025 season. They lost key pieces across the board, including EDGE David Bailey, cornerback Julian Neal, and starting QB Ashton Daniels, who transferred to Auburn. Elijah Brown is projected to take over for Daniels, though his time on the field has been limited, and he will likely be a work in progress.
Barring the unforeseen outcome of Luck earning another year of eligibility and lacing up the cleats for one more season in Cardinal red, Stanford will likely be looking at a 3-4 win season again.
Florida State Seminoles
Mike Norvell Fired After Mediocre 2025 Season
Mike Norvell has all the pressure in the world on him this season. Not only is he making nearly $10 million this year, but he’s coming off the most disappointing season in recent memory for the Seminoles. After heading into the season ranked No. 10 in the AP poll, Florida State was shocked by Boston College, which beat them 28-13.
That loss was one of 11 on the season for a team that was one injury away from being in the College Football Playoff just one year before.
Their lone win came in an ugly 14-9 victory over Cal in Week 3, which was followed by nine consecutive losses to end the season. In their defense, last season’s schedule was brutal. This year is a little easier on paper, but road matchups against Clemson and Florida and a season-opening clash against Alabama won’t be fun.
RELATED: Top 25 Returning College Football Tight Ends: Eli Stowers, Jack Endries Highlight the Elite Talent
The Seminole roster is seemingly brand new, though it does boast the sixth-best transfer class in the country. Former Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos will lead the offense, and the Seminoles signed an excellent target for him in the form of former USC wide receiver Duce Robinson.
Their defensive front should still be lethal, with DT Darrell Jackson Jr. leading the way and transfer James Williams backing him up.
With such a mishmash of a team, though, it will be tricky for Florida State to return to the top of the college football world. Seminole fans are not the most patient, and Norvell will be on the hot seat immediately following the Alabama game.
