ACC spring football primer: Power Rankings, burning questions for every team
The ACC, home to two of the past four national champions, felt especially top-heavy when Florida State and Clemson re-emerged in the early part of this decade as the league’s best teams. While the Seminoles and Tigers have continued to dominate, the rest of the league has gotten deeper in an attempt to catch them. The Coastal Division still feels wide open, but instead of being stocked with mediocre teams, it’s got contenders such as Pittsburgh who can beat the eventual national champ on the road and still not win the division. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Division title isn’t guaranteed to run through Tallahassee or Clemson. Louisville returns a Heisman Trophy winner, and NC State will have one of the nation’s best and most experienced defensive lines.
It used to be an insult to be ranked near the middle of the ACC. Come November, the seventh best team in the ACC might still find itself in the top 25.
1. Florida State Seminoles
RECORD: 2016 10-3
We’ll know how the Seminoles’ national title aspirations stack up when they face Alabama in the season opener in Atlanta. But before they worry too much about a national title, they need to worry about reclaiming the ACC in a year when the league feels deeper than ever.
2. Clemson Tigers
RECORD: 2016 14-1
The defending national champion could have the nation’s best defensive line in 2017, but the Tigers have a lot to replace on offense. After Clemson loses QB Deshaun Watson, WR Mike Williams and RB Wayne Gallman, which new names will produce the points?
3. Miami Hurricanes
RECORD: 2016 9-4
Mark Richt has the U moving in the correct direction, but it’s still too early to determine whether this will be the year the Hurricanes finally break through in terms of beating Florida State or winning an ACC title.
4. Virginia Tech Hokies
RECORD: 2016 10-4
The Hokies looked like the favorite to repeat as Coastal Division champs until QB Jerod Evans turned pro. Could year two for Justin Fuente be tougher than year one?
5. Louisville Cardinals
RECORD: 2016 9-4
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson returns, but it will be up to new offensive line coach Mike Summers to make sure Jackson gets better protection than he did when things fell apart at the end of last season.
6. North Carolina State Wolfpack
RECORD: 2016 7-6
This is a make-or-break year for Dave Doeren. The defensive line is great. The offense returns eight starters, including QB Ryan Finley. Unfortunately, the division remains brutal. The Wolfpack need to take another step, but who can they step over?
7. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
RECORD: 2016 9-4
The Yellow Jackets must replace three-year starter Justin Thomas at quarterback, but Matthew Jordan seems capable. Georgia Tech should be able to contend for the Coastal Division title this year.
8. Pittsburgh Panthers
RECORD: 2016 8-5
Year three of the Pat Narduzzi era will start with a third different offensive coordinator—this time it’s former Nebraska, Louisville and Texas coordinator Shawn Watson—and another graduate transfer quarterback (Max Browne, late of USC). But the biggest question is whether the Panthers’ defense can become more like the ones Narduzzi ran at Michigan State.
9. Duke Blue Devils
RECORD: 2016 4-8
The Blue Devils snapped their string of four consecutive bowl games last year, but year two with Daniel Jones at quarterback should bring a return to postseason play.
10. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
RECORD: 2016 7-6
The Demon Deacons have climbed steadily under Dave Clawson. After reaching a bowl in ’16, they have the personnel to avoid a step backward.
11. North Carolina Tar Heels
RECORD: 2016 8-5
The Tar Heels must replace their quarterback, top three rushers and top two receivers. Considering the improved depth of the league, this is a tough year to have to rebuild an offense.
12. Syracuse Orange
RECORD: 2016 4-8
The Orange got better in their first year under Dino Babers. Will a unique offense become a true differentiating factor this year?
13. Boston College Eagles
RECORD: 2016 7-6
The Eagles took a leap last season, but with a new athletic director coming in, Steve Addazio can’t afford a slide back toward 2015 levels.
14. Virginia Cavaliers
RECORD: 2016 2-10
The Cavaliers should improve in Bronco Mendenhall’s second year, but with depth and class balance issues that can be solved only through recruiting, that improvement may only be incremental.