A deeper dive into the ACC

Boston College

Last year’s record: 7-6, 3-5 ACC

The Eagles had the No. 14 rush offense nationally (2,584 yards, 25 touchdowns) and should scare teams on the ground despite first-year coach Bill O’Brien’s reputation as a QB coach.

Thomas Castellanos, a UCF transfer, ran for 1,113 yards and 13 TDs but had just 15 TD passes to 14 interceptions. Kye Robichaux and FSU/Kansas State transfer Treshaun Ward combine for a formidable backfield.

DE Donovan Ezeiruaku has 13.5 career sacks to lead a veteran front.

California

Last year’s record: 6-7, 4-5 Pac-12

The Bears feature underrated RB Jaydn Ott (1,305 yards, 12 touchdowns) and Miami native Fernando Mendoza (6-5, 220) at quarterback in an offense that should be fun to watch.

They landed transfer WRs Tobias Merriweather (284 yards at Notre Dame) and Mikey Matthews (261 yards at Utah).

Cal returns all of its key pieces in the secondary, but the defense gave up 32.8 points per game.

Clemson

Last year’s record: 9-4, 4-4 ACC

Expect the Tigers to bounce back with Cade Klubnik’s experience combined with offensive playmakers and talent on defense.

Klubnik completed 64% of his passes in an up-and-down season. The Tigers’ receiving corps remains intact, and RB Phil Mafah (965 yards, 13 touchdowns) returns.

The defense had five players drafted but Clemson’s recruiting has been exceptional. All-American LB Barrett Carter, DT Peter Woods and DE T.J. Parker lead the Tigers.

Duke

Last year’s record: 8-5, 4-4 ACC

Maalik Murphy is 6-5 and was the talk of the offseason at Duke. But Murphy is a 4-star quarterback transfer from Texas and not the next basketball star.

Murphy played in seven games at Texas and could guide the offense. WRs Jordan Moore (62 catches, 835 yards, 8 touchdowns) and Sahmir Hagans (62 career catches) are back.

LB Tre Freeman (106 tackles) returns, but first-year coach Manny Diaz has a rebuilding job on defense.

FSU

Last year’s record: 13-1, 8-0 ACC

The Seminoles lose 10 NFL draft picks but restocked via the portal, landing QB D.J. Uiagalelei, WR Malik Benson, DE Marvin Jones Jr. and LB Cam Riley.

FSU should move the ball on the ground between Roydell Williams, Lawrance Toafili, versatile playmaker Jaylin Lucas and a deep, experienced offensive line. LT Darius Washington could be an All-ACC pick.

The Seminoles are loaded on the defensive front with Jones Jr., DE Patrick Payton and DTs Darrell Jackson and Joshua Farmer.

Georgia Tech

Last year’s record: 7-6, 5-3 ACC

Haynes King is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the conference, passing for 2,842 yards, 27 touchdowns and 16 interceptions last year.

And there are plenty of weapons back at receiver (Eric Singleton, Malik Rutherford and Leo Blackburn) plus 1,000-yard rusher Jamal Haynes.

The Yellow Jackets’ schedule features four potential playoff teams (FSU in Ireland, Notre Dame, Miami and at Georgia). There also are road games with Louisville, UNC and Virginia Tech.

Louisville

Last year’s record: 10-4, 7-1 ACC

The ACC runner-up, the Cardinals lose eight offensive starters and rebuilt with transfers — QB Tyler Shough (Texas Tech) and WR Caulin Lacy (South Alabama), among others. The defense is led by DE Ashton Gillotte (11 sacks).

Shough begins year No. 7 of college. He has 4,625 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions at Oregon and Texas Tech.

Lacy had 1,316 receiving yards, 7 TDs and had 14.5 yards per catch but has suffered a broken collarbone that could keep him sidelined for up to eight weeks.

Miami

Last year’s record: 7-6, 3-5 ACC

The Hurricanes have elevated the roster via the portal and high school recruiting, but how will the newcomers mesh? They won’t have trouble scoring, bringing in QB transfer Cam Ward (Washington State).

Ward threw for 3,736 yards in 2023, and he has two stellar targets in Xavier Restrepo (1,092 yards, 6 TDs) and Jacolby George (864 yards, 8 TDs).

DE Rueben Bain (7.5 sacks) and LB Francisco Mauigoa (82 tackles, 7.5 sacks) return and are joined by an infusion of transfers.

North Carolina

Last year’s record: 8-5, 4-4 ACC

The book on the Tar Heels is familiar: UNC will score and struggle to defend.

Running back Omarion Hampton (1,504 yards, 15 touchdowns) is an efficient workhorse at 5.9 yards per carry. QB Drake Maye is off to the NFL, and in is Max Johnson (transfer from LSU and Texas A&M). The WR corps is deep, headlined by J.J. Jones (711 yards).

LB Kaimon Rucker (61 tackles, 8.5 sacks) leads a veteran defensive front.

N.C. State

Last year’s record: 9-4, 6-2 ACC

Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall is the ACC’s most accomplished quarterback (10,005 yards, 88 touchdowns and 15 interceptions). He will be protected by four returning starters on the line.

McCall also has versatile WR Kevin Concepcion, who had 839 yards and 10 touchdowns as well as 320 rushing yards in 2023.

CB Aydan White (100 tackles, 8 INTs in career) leads an experienced secondary that will be tested in September (Tennessee and Clemson).

Pittsburgh

Last year’s record: 3-9, 2-6

The Panthers hit the portal to grab Desmond Reid, a Miami native who had 897 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns last season at Western Carolina.

Reid followed his offensive coordinator, Kade Bell, to Pittsburgh. Bell (the son of former UF quarterback Kerwin Bell) must inject life into an offense that averaged 20.2 points per game.

SS Javon McIntyre (85 tackles) is one of just two returning starters. DE Nate Matlack (Kansas State) could be the most impactful transfer.

SMU

Last year’s record: 11-3, 9-0 AAC

The Mustangs scored 31 or more points in their 11 wins, but also lost three games vs. Power 5 teams (Oklahoma, TCU and Boston College). Now, SMU makes the jump to P4 with the ACC.

Preston Stone (3,197 yards, 28 touchdowns) keys an offense that includes receivers Jake Bailey (528 yards) and Jordan Hudson (425 yards, 7 TDs).

DE Elijah Roberts, a 6-4 transfer from Miami, had 10 sacks in his first year at SMU.

Stanford

Last year’s record: 3-9, 2-7 Pac-12

Stanford will have growing pains in the ACC, but there’s experience up front with four offensive linemen returning.

The Cardinal return nine offensive starters and should find success via the pass. QB Ashton Daniels wasn’t accurate (58.8%) in 2023 but Stanford has a wealth of receivers, led by Elic Ayomanor (62 catches, 1,013 yards, 6 touchdowns).

LB Tristan Sinclair (71 tackles) and Stanford gave up 37.7 points per game, second worst in the FBS.

Syracuse

Last year’s record: 6-7, 2-6 ACC

First-year coach Fran Brown hit the portal and landed Ohio State QB Kyle McCord (3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns, 6 INTs).

The Orange return RB LeQuint Allen (1,064 yards, 9 touchdowns) as well as TE Oronde Gadsden (975 receiving yards in 2022, missed most of last fall with injury). Receivers Zeed Haynes and Jackson Meeks arrived from Georgia, where Brown was an assistant.

LB Marlowe Wax (110 tackles, 4 sacks) and SS Justin Barron (90 tackles) anchor Syracuse’s defense.

Virginia

Last year’s record: 3-9, 2-6 ACC

Regardless of which QB starts (Tony Muskett or Anthony Colandrea), the talent level has been elevated and the Cavs should surpass last season’s win total.

WR Malachi Fields (58 catches, 811 yards, 5 TDs) returns and is joined by Notre Dame WR Chris Tyree (26 catches, 484 yards, 3 TDs) and Clemson TE Sage Ennis.

The defense is experienced up front. DE Chico Bennett (34 tackles), LB Kam Robinson (71 tackles) and SS Jonas Sanker (107 tackles) lead Virginia.

Virginia Tech

Last year’s record: 7-6, 5-3 ACC

The Hokies are a hot pick to take flight in Brent Pry’s third year as the staff has built depth.

QB Kyron Drones (2,085 passing yards, 818 rushing yards) is dangerous. VT also has RB Bhayshul Tuten (863 yards, 10 TDs) and WR depth, led by Jaylin Lane (538 yards, 6 TDs).

Duke transfer DT Aeneas Peebles (43 tackles), Middle Tennessee transfer LB Sam Brumfield (81 tackles) and CB Dorian Strong (3 interceptions) anchor an improving defense.

Wake Forest

Last year’s record: 4-8, 1-7 ACC

The Deacons landed QB Hank Bachmeier, who has thrown for 8,663 yards at Boise State and Louisiana Tech. Last fall, he completed 67.7% of his passes.

They return WR Taylor Morin (41 catches, 617 yards) and RB Demond Claiborne (137 carries, 586 yards).

Wake has impactful players at all three levels on defense: DT Kevin Pointer (9 tackles for loss), LB Dylan Hazen (team-leading 86 tackles) and DB DaShawn Jones (3 interceptions).

— Bob Ferrante