The ACC released the official Preseason ACC results earlier last week, and here is a look at how we voted for the divisions and the ACC Champion.
Atlantic Division
1. Clemson
The Tigers return the best defensive line in the country and should terrorize teams on that side of the ball.
Offensively they must replace wide receiver Deon Cain but has recruited extremely well at the position and return reliable slot receiver Hunter Renfro.
Simply put, Clemson is the most talented team in the conference and experienced.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- The Tigers are going to be tough to beat, especially with the game versus NC State at home and no cross-over matchups with Miami or Virginia Tech.
Critical Question: What will happen at quarterback? Clemson returns starter Kelly Bryant, but it appears everyone wants hot shot recruit Trevor Lawrence to be the guy.
A quarterback controversy could be an issue for this team... will it work? How will it impact chemistry?
Don't be surprised if this ends up a negative for the Tigers.
2. NC State
Yes, NC State must replace Nyheim Hines, Jaylen Samuels, and eight starters on defense.
However, they also return the league's best quarterback, the top wide receiving group, and the "replacements" on defense have experience.
In fact, outside of projected starter at linebacker Louis Acceus, all of the new starters will have game experience.
Finally, don't ignore the impact of freshman kicker Chris Dunn. The kicking game has hurt NC State the past two seasons. If he is as good as advertised that could swing a game or two the Wolfpack's way.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- Another positive for the Wolfpack... NC State has home games with Florida State, Boston College, and Wake Forest and the cross-over games are against UNC and Virginia, the two projected worst teams in the Coastal Division.
From a tie-breaker standpoint, that's a lot of potential advantages for the Wolfpack.
Critical Question: Who steps up at running back? Call me crazy, but I'm not concerned with the defense. I think they will figure it out.
However, NC State has to replace a lot of ground production from Samuels and Hines... 1500+ yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground.
If NC State can find a guy to step into that role, the offense should be scary as it will likely be pass-heavy which should open up easier opportunities for the ground game.
3. Florida State
Willie Taggart takes over a FSU program fresh off a sixth-place finish in the division after being picked to win the Atlantic in 2017.
The quarterback situation should be much better with Deondre Francois and James Blackman competing for the position, and FSU is loaded at tailback with Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick.
Defensively, the Noles must replace several stars, but they always are loaded with defensive talent.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- Tough schedule for FSU, who plays Miami and Virginia Tech from the Coastal Division and has road games at NC State and Louisville.
Critical Question: With this much talent, why just third place? Well, Taggart is a builder... expect him to blow it all up in year one and show he's building. Don't be surprised to see the 'Noles go with a youth movement at positions to try and play for the future.
Also, the conference schedule is brutal.
FSU could be lower, but this team's likely too talented.
4. Louisville
The post-Lamar Jackson era begins this season, and we'll find out how much he meant to the Cardinals.
His replacement, Jawon Pass, is talented, but he's not Lamar Jackson.
With that being said, Bobby Petrino is a great quarterbacks coach and the Cardinals are loaded with weapons around Pass.
Low expectations could Louisville to fly under the radar, which isn't a bad thing.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- The Cards have Virginia and Georgia Tech from the Coastal, with the Tech game in between Florida State and Boston College. That is a brutal stretch for Louisville's rush defense.
Critical Question: Can the defense be opportunistic? The expectation is Louisville's offense will take a step back without Jackson, but if the defense can emerge, don't be surprised to see the Cardinals finish here, which would be a good finish given the difficulty of the Atlantic.
5. Boston College
Boston College is a trendy pick to finish high in the Atlantic and it's easy to see why. The Eagles went young last year at quarterback, tailback, and wide receiver, and earned a bowl bid.
Quarterback Anthony Brown is back from a knee injury and AJ Dillon is the ACC Preseason Player of the Year.
BC could easily exceed this projection, especially if Dillon lives up to the hype.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- Not only did BC draw Miami and Virginia Tech from the Coastal, but the Eagles will face NC State, Wake Forest, and Florida State on the road... three of the four teams they are expected to compete with for second in the Atlantic behind Clemson.
For comparison, NC State only faces Louisville on the road of those four teams (BC only has Louisville at home).
Critical Question: Can AJ Dillon live up to the hype? Sophomore tailback AJ Dillon was outstanding as a freshman and expectations are high for him in 2018.
If healthy, he'll be good, but can Boston College be stout enough defensively and strong enough through the air to keep him a factor in the big games on the schedule?
6. Wake Forest
The Deacs must replace several major contributors, a lot like NC State has to in 2018. However, new quarterback Kendall Hinton is experienced, and wide receiver Greg Dortch is has star talent.
Defensively Wake Forest struggled down the stretch and has plenty of new faces.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- Wake ends the season with games against Pittsburgh and Duke from the Coastal and has road matchups with NC State, Florida State, and Louisville.
Critical Question: Will Hinton be able to shoulder the load? Kendall Hinton pushed John Wolford for three seasons until Wolford starred in 2017. Now it is Hinton's job, but the senior quarterback will open the season serving a three-game suspension.
Hinton, who has also battled injuries throughout his career, could be a difference maker for the Deacons.
7. Syracuse
Syracuse is expected to be the weakest team in the Atlantic with major replacements needed at wide receiver and on the defense.
Like NC State, the Orange returns an experienced quarterback in Eric Dungey, but is that enough to make them truly competitive in the Atlantic?
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- Syracuse has NC State, Florida State, and Louisville at home with Coastal games against North Carolina and Pittsburgh. Very good set-up for the Orange.
Critical Question: Can Eric Dungey stay healthy? How injured has Eric Dungey been at Syracuse? He's entering his fourth season as the starter at quarterback but has faced NC State just one time in his career.
Dungey has sustained multiple concussions and he must stay healthy for Syracuse to reach their potential which is likely just a bowl bid given the defensive issues and question marks at wide receiver.
Coastal Division
1. Miami
Miami returns their starting quarterback, tailback, and best wide receiver and the Canes are loaded on defense.
They are the easy pick to win the Coastal.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- Miami's schedule isn't easy with games against FSU and BC from the Atlantic and road games at Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.
Critical Question: Was last year's "return" a fluke? Miami road a wave of momentum for much of 2017, but the Canes will be the hunted in the Coastal.
Can they handle the pressure? As stated above, the schedule won't be easy.
2. Georgia Tech
Maybe an aggressive pick for the Jackets, but quarterback TaQuon Marshall has star ability in Tech's system.
With the division wide open, why not Georgia Tech as the potential winner? The Jackets could be right there.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- Tech has Clemson and Louisville from the Atlantic but has home games against Miami and the Tigers.
Critical Question: Will the defense step up? Tech made strides last season, but defensive coordinator Ted Roof left for NC State in the spring.
If the defense is opportunistic, the Jackets will definitely be a player in the Coastal.
3. Virginia Tech
The Hokies had some offseason turmoil which has tempered expectations to a degree, but with Josh Jackson back at quarterback and plenty of options at tailback, you can't sleep on Virginia Tech in this division.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- Virginia Tech opens the season at Florida State but has home games with Miami and Georgia Tech which could prove to be huge.
Critical Question: Who will replace Cam Phillips? Phillips was a stud at wide receiver in 2017, and there is no definite replacement on the roster. Jackson must find a go-to playmaker on the perimeter to help open up the running game.
4. Duke
Another team in the division with a chance, Duke has an experienced quarterback in Daniel Jones and sophomore tailback Brittain Brown has star potential.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- The Blue Devils play at Clemson, at Miami, and also has to travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech.
Critical Question: Can Jones take the next step? Quarterback Daniel Jones has been good as a starter, but can he elevate his game to the next level?
If he does, watch out for the Blue Devils.
5. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has to re-tool at multiple positions on both sides of the ball, but with a potentially stout defense and legit playmaker at quarterback in Kenny Pickett... the Panthers have a shot to make some real noise.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- Pittsburgh travels to Miami but has Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech at home with Atlantic division games against Syracuse and Wake Forest.
Critical Question: Is Pickett for real? Quarterback Kenny Pickett showed promise down the stretch and there is some talk that he can be a star for the Panthers.
If he emerges, this is a team that has the defense to really make some noise in the Coastal.
6. North Carolina
The Heels struggled to a 3-9 mark and questions remain on both sides of the ball. Given they are in the Coastal the opportunity is there to surprise, but with looming suspensions and the questions at quarterback, it's hard to really project it.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- Fairly easy schedule for UNC. The Heels have NC State (at home) and Syracuse from the Atlantic with games against Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech at home. Road ACC games: Syracuse, Miami, Duke, and Virginia.
Congrats.
Critical Question: Who will be the playmakers? Anthony Ratliff-Williams showed promise last season, but North Carolina needs to find another playmaker offensively.
7. Virginia
Virginia started strong last year but struggled down the stretch, losing six of the final seven games. For a Cavs program that now has SIX straight losing seasons... can they go up in 2018?
Bronco Mendenhall is billed as a program builder, but the task will be tough in 2018 having to replace the starting quarterback and All-ACC defenders Micah Kiser and Quin Blanding.
Sneak Peek: The Schedule -- NC State and Louisville from the Atlantic with road games at Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, NC State, and Duke.
Critical Question: Will ASU QB transfer Bryce Perkins be the real deal? Expectations are high for Perkins, who transferred in from junior college. The dual-threat signal-caller must be a factor right away for the Cavaliers.
ACC Champion
Clemson
As stated above, Clemson is the most talented team in the conference and experienced.
They will figure it out on offense and win games with defense and special teams until they are able to do so.
| Order Of Finish | Atlantic Division | Coastal Division |
| 1. | Clemson | Miami |
| 2. | NC State | Georgia Tech |
| 3. | Florida State | Virginia Tech |
| 4. | Louisville | Duke |
| 5. | Boston College | Pittsburgh |
| 6. | Wake Forest | North Carolina |
| 7. | Syracuse | Virginia |
