CFB Early Conference Standings Predictions: ACC

For this spring preview series, I’ve covered the Pac-12, Big Ten, and Big 12. Today, I will be giving my early conference standings predictions for the ACC. Let’s get into it.

ACC ATLANTIC

1. Clemson

You know your program has entered the stratosphere of all-time great programs when you can lose a talent like Trevor Lawrence and be just fine the following year. DJ Uiagalelei has big shoes to fill and the talent to do so as we saw in his two 2020 starts. The young quarterback gets a boost with Justyn Ross opting to return to Clemson in 2021 while he also tries to boost his draft profile after struggling with injuries. Huge question marks stand at running back and in the secondary, thanks to Travis Etienne departing for the NFL and the secondary struggling mightily in the CFP Semifinals. A returning strength? The defensive line, manned by two star sophomores Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee, and another top-five recruiting class.

2. Boston College

The dropoff in this division is pretty stark, but don’t take away from what Jeff Hafley has done in his only year in Chestnut Hill. A 6-5 record with one-score losses to both North Carolina and Clemson is a pretty good start. The Eagles lose star TE Hunter Long but return two other key pieces from a much-improved passing attack with QB Phil Jurkovec and WR Zay Flowers. The defense struggled in 2020 and will have to deal with losing two of its best players, LBs Max Richardson and Isaiah McDuffie. A lot of work needs to go into the defense and finishing games. A much easier 2021 schedule should help.

3. NC State

There’s a lot to like with this NC State roster, especially off an 8-4 2020 season with QB Devin Leary sidelined for most of it. He and much of the roster returns healthy, 17 starters to be exact, and ready to go for ‘21. Leary, who tossed eight touchdowns in four games before breaking his leg, has to be thrilled that his leading receiver Emeka Emezie (738 yards, five touchdowns) is taking his extra year of availability and returning to school. The defense, while solid in ‘20, loses second-team All-American DT Alim McNeill and has to find consistency in the secondary after injuries ravaged the group in 2020.

4. Florida State

Will we finally see some progress from the Noles? Every season since Jimbo Fisher left after the 2017 season, Florida State has been a mess. Mike Norvell was dealt a tough hand having his first season in Tallahassee disrupted by COVID-19, and a full offseason of workouts and in-person meetings should do wonders. McKenzie Milton transfers in from UCF and will be one of the ACC’s best quarterbacks if he can return to pre-injury form. If he can’t go, Jordan Travis played well in spurts and Chubba Purdy was a top recruit. Adding in Auburn transfer DJ Williams and Kansas transfer Andrew Parchment (829 yards and seven touchdowns in 2020), along with a smattering of transfers on the defensive side as well, and there’s an injection of the new flavor on both sides. Improving the offensive line will be a must as well, helping with the addition of FIU transfer Devontay Love-Taylor. Add on a top-25 recruiting class and optimist flows through the Florida panhandle.

5. Louisville

The Cardinals were a team I was pretty disappointed in for their 2020 performance. The team struggled with close losses, turnovers, and inconsistent play from Malik Cunningham. He turned the ball over too much last year (12 INT). While Cunningham gets a good portion of his offensive line back, he loses his best skill players to the NFL: RB Javian Hawkins and WRs Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick. The defense was solid at times in 2020, but must improve in the trenches, force more turnovers and be more consistent. 

6. Wake Forest 

There’s good reason to move the Demon Deacons higher than this spot, but I’ll keep them here for now. The offense should be amongst the ACC’s best in 2021, after scoring over 35 points a game last year and returning quarterback Sam Hartman and his top three receivers (Jaquarii Roberson, Donavon Greene, and Taylor Morin). The team doesn’t need to get better on the ground after averaging under four yards a carry, and it doesn’t help Kenneth Walker transferred to Michigan State, leaving Christian Beal-Smith as the clear-cut No. 1 back. The Demon Deacons also need to replace star DL Boogie Basham. Like Louisville, there’s plenty of room for the Deacs to move up.

7. Syracuse

The Orange REALLY struggled in 2020. How does Dino Babers get back on track? Start by scoring some more points, an area in which ‘Cuse had trouble with (17.8 PPG). There’s competition under center with MSU transfer Garrett Shrader and returning starter Tommy DeVito. RB Sean Tucker and WR Taj Harris also return. Other than that, I don’t find much reason to rank the Orange anywhere but right here at the bottom.

ACC COASTAL

1. North Carolina

It’s a razor-thin margin at the top of the ACC Coastal, but I’m giving the edge to North Carolina. Sam Howell is one of my favorite players to watch in all of college football, and he is joined by a very talented roster around him. So talented that I’m still ranking them first despite Howell losing his top four skill players: RBs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter, and WRs Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown. On top of that, star linebacker Chazz Surratt also heads off to the NFL. Mack Brown has built out this roster with three strong recruiting classes and should see this team blossom in what should be Howell’s final season in Chapel Hill.

2. Miami

The health of D’Eriq remains the biggest question for the Hurricanes after their star QB tore his ACL in December, and why I ranked the Hurricanes lower than the Tar Heels. The ‘Canes return a ton of offensive skill talent: RBs Cam’Ron Harris, Donald Chaney, and Jaylan Knighton, along with WRs Mike Harley, Mark Pope, Dee Wiggins, and Oklahoma transfer Charleston Rambo. The offensive line, despite being a struggle, returns most of its production as well. The defense must get better and lose Quincy Roche and Jaelen Phillips to the NFL. The addition of a 12th-ranked recruiting class and Georgia transfer Tyrique Stevenson in the secondary should help.

3. Pitt

The Panthers had to be thrilled when QB Kenny Pickett decided to return for a fifth season, keeping some stability under center. Pitt has a star in Jordan Addison out wide and also returns its leading rusher, Vincent Davis. The Panthers struggled overall producing yards on offense and might have to turn to someone new to find a spark. Improvement on the offensive line would help, but that unit lost C Jimmy Morrissey to the draft. The defense was awesome in 2020 but loses pass rushers Patrick Jones II and Rashad Weaver and safety Damar Hamlin. Much optimism still remains for the group, but this is as high as I’ll rank them.

4. Virginia Tech

The reason I didn’t rank VT over Pitt was the loss of QB Hendon Hooker (nine passing touchdowns, nine rushing touchdowns) to the transfer portal. Him along with standout RB Khalil Herbert and LT Christian Darrisaw were the engine that made the VT offense go. That is a lot of productions to put on the shoulders of now-QB1 Braxton Burmeister. Eight starters return on defense, but still, some holes to fill with LB Rayshard Ashby, S Divine Deablo and DL Jarrod Hewitt, and Justus Reed all departing. Allowing over 32.0 pts/game won’t cut it.

5. Virginia

Virginia really has an upward battle to face in this division, but there is still a lot to like about this roster. Brennan Armstrong showed flashes under center and led the Virginia offense to score over 30 pts/game. His offensive line returns along with a strong set of skill players in RB Wayne Taulapapa and WRs Lavel Davis Jr. and Billy Kemp IV. The secondary was torched in 2020 but adds Louisville transfer Anthony Johnson to a group that ranked 123rd in passing yards allowed, while also retooling the entire linebacking core, who lost Zane Zandier, Matt Gahm, and Rob Snyder to the draft.

6. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets showed a little improvement at times last year, but overall the group still struggled. Jeff Sims showed flashes under center but turned the ball over way too much (13 INT). The defense struggled (36.8 pts/game) and needs a lot of improvement. The schedule for Georgia Tech is brutal too: Notre Dame, Georgia, Clemson, North Carolina, and Miami. Yeesh, that seems like a tall task to measure improvement. We shall see.

7. Duke

The offense was in need of a shakeup after averaging barely over 5.0 yards/play in 2020. Chase Brice transferred out, so it’s between Gunnar Holmberg and Luca Diamont for the starting job. It should help that the group returns leading rusher Mataeo Durant and most of the offensive line. The defense also has a lot of questions to answer, a unit that allowed 38.1 pts/game while losing multiple starters. Not much for me to rank them anywhere but here.

Writer

-By: TJ Mathewson