Realignment has been rearing its ugly head the past few weeks, and it seems the ACC is not immune to having their teams at risk of being poached. Florida State has been very vocal about their displeasure when it comes to revenue sharing and alongside Clemson, have been linked to the Big Ten.
Overall, the conference was a huge letdown with Clemson struggling early on in the season, UNC never living up to the hype, while NCST and Wake Forest squandered opportunities to make up ground. In the end, it was Clemson on top of the ACC again, but two non-conference losses kept them out of the playoff discussion. One big change for the conference championship is that the Atlantic and Coastal divisions have been removed and all 14 teams will compete in one division with the top two teams facing each other in Charlotte.
With all the shuffling in Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC heading into 2024, the ACC is at risk of falling off the map of relevance in the college football landscape. Who will rise up and assert themselves as a powerhouse in 2023?
Florida State
Head Coach: Mike Norvell (4th Season, 18-16)
Last Year Record (Rank): 10-3 (15)
PR: 9
Prediction: 9-3
What's Ahead: The Seminoles salvaged the season after three consecutive losses when they won their final six games. Quarterback Jordan Travis is here to carry that momentum into the 2023 season and they'll need all those good vibes when they face LSU in Orlando in Week 1. A trip to Clemson rounds out a tough September. The Noles bring a lot of talent back from an offense that was 15th in scoring last season. Can Florida State overcome its two SEC foes and their nemesis Clemson? If they take care of at least two of the three look for them to get some playoff consideration. Just in time to join the Big Ten in 2024?
Clemson
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (16th Season, 161-39)
LYR: 11-3 (11)
PR: 11
Prediction: 11-1
What's Ahead: The Tigers will not go away and don't expect them to be anywhere but in the conversation for January. Clemson has a plethora of talent returning on both sides of the ball and was in the top 30 in scoring offense and defense last season. The biggest concern is how well Cade Klubnik will play in a full season after D.J. Uiagalelei transferred to Oregon State. Aside from a season-ending trip to South Carolina, the Tigers have most of their toughest tasks (Notre Dame, Florida State, UNC) coming to Death Valley.
North Carolina
Head Coach: Mack Brown (15th Season, 99-68-1)
LYR: 9-5 (36)
PR: 23
Prediction: 9-3
What's Ahead: The second stint of the Mack Brown era has featured some of the most overhyped teams in college football. Part of the reason is quarterback Drake Maye, who will likely be a first-round pick in 2024. The defense returns a lot of starters, but they also were 101st in defensive scoring, allowing 30 points a game.
Duke
Head Coach: Mike Elko (2nd Season, 9-4)
LYR: 9-4 (29)
PR: 24
Prediction: 8-4
What's Ahead: What a first-year turnaround for Mike Elko at Duke. The Blue Devils took down some of the big dogs in the ACC and won their bowl game over UCF. There are a lot of familiar faces on both sides of the ball, but the schedule is much tougher in 2023. They start with Clemson before welcoming Notre Dame and NCST. After all that, they head to Florida State and North Carolina. They have the pieces to be playoff wreckers, but probably not enough to make the playoffs.
NCST
LYR: 8-5 (42)
PR: 33
Prediction: 7-5
What's Ahead: NCST hasn't won a league title since 1979, but it doesn't look like the streak ends in 2023. Brennan Armstrong takes over as quarterback after transferring in from Virginia. He has support on both sides of the ball, but not enough to get through the top dogs in the pack.
Pitt
LYR: 9-4 (28)
PR: 34
Prediction: 6-6
What's Ahead: The Panthers get Phil Jurkovec from Boston College to play quarterback this season, but there are a lot of questions in key spots. The schedule is full of big match-ups with Cincinnati coming to the Burgh followed by a trip to West Virginia in a series of old Big East foes. They also head to Notre Dame, welcome Florida State, and play Syracuse at Yankee Stadium. It will be a great year of experiences, but Pitt fans might have to embrace the ups and downs.
Louisville
Head Coach: Jeff Brohm (1st Season)
LYR: 8-5 (40)
PR: 35
Prediction: 8-4
What's Ahead: Jeff Brohm takes over at his alma mater and brought his quarterback, Jack Plummer, from Purdue with him. It will be a learning year, but the Cardinals have a slightly easier schedule than those above them, which could lead to better results. Also, they have a transfer named Storm Duck on defense, so that's pretty cool.
Wake Forest
Head Coach: Dave Clawson (10th Season, 59-53)
LYR: 8-5 (47)
PR: 42
Prediction: 7-5
What's Ahead: Dave Clawson will have to find a decent replacement for his record-setting quarterback, Sam Hartman, who will face the Demon Deacons when they head to Notre Dame in November. Wake Forest is one of the not-so-lucky schools that has Clemson, Florida State, and Notre Dame on their schedule. At least their SEC opponent is Vanderbilt, so that should help.
Syracuse
Head Coach: Dino Babers (8th Season, 36-49)
LYR: 7-6 (60)
PR: 54
Prediction: 6-6
What's Ahead: The seat is hot for Dino Babers after he had the Orange out to a 6-0 start, but then dropped five straight and six of their last seven. There's a chance they'll get out to a 3-1 or 4-0 start again, but then it's Clemson, UNC, and Florida State to bring them back down to Earth. Fortunately, Babers has Senior quarterback Garrett Shrader and tight end standout Oronde Gadsen II to help guide the offense.
Miami
Head Coach: Mario Cristobal (2nd Season, 5-7)
LYR: 5-7 (98)
PR: 68
Prediction: 7-5
What's Ahead: It couldn't have gone much worse for Mario Cristobal in year one. They failed to make a bowl game thanks in part to a 45-31 beatdown handed to them in Miami by Middle Tennessee State. The schedule is full of tough tasks and it could be considered another down year for the Hurricanes.
Georgia Tech
Head Coach: Brent Key (2nd Season, 4-4)
LYR: 5-7 (86)
PR: 81
Prediction: 4-8
What's Ahead: The Yellow Jackets showed great improvement after Geoff Collins was fired, as they nearly made a bowl game despite starting 1-3. There are a lot of changes and the conference seems poised for a bounceback season, so it might be tough to find wins in Atlanta.
Virginia Tech
LYR: 3-8 (113)
PR: 95
Prediction: 5-7
What's Ahead: The Brent Pry era started with a loss to Old Dominion, and then included a seven-game skid before they barely beat Liberty, 23-22 in the final week. The team should improve, but it still likely won't produce a trip to a bowl game.
Boston College
Head Coach: Jeff Hafley (4th Season, 15-20)
LYR: 3-9 (115)
PR: 96
Prediction: 7-5
What's Ahead: Who needs a quarterback when you have this soft of a schedule. I think the Eagles will have a much improved season. Knowing my luck, they'll be so bad that Jeff Hafley gets fired.
Virginia
Head Coach: Tony Elliott (2nd Season, 3-7)
LYR: 3-7 (112)
PR: 100
Prediction: 3-9
What's Ahead: The defense has got some studs at linebacker, which is good, because the defense will probably be on the field a lot for the Cavaliers.
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