ACC preview 2023: Clemson and Florida State are on top of the league, but who’s No. 3?

Divisions are gone in the Atlantic Coast Conference, so it’s going to be trickier than ever for those teams that once filled the Coastal Division to make it to Charlotte for the 2023 ACC Championship Game — especially this year.

The Clemson Tigers and Florida State Seminoles, who have spent most of the last 15 years taking turns as the powerhouse of the Atlantic Division, are the clear-cut top two in the league this year, but the rest of the conference is wide open. Can the Miami Hurricanes, North Carolina Tar Heels or anyone else challenge the two former Atlantic powers?

1. Clemson Tigers

Coach: Dabo Swinney

Players to watch: RB Will Shipley, WR Beaux Collins, T Walker Parks, DL Ruke Orhorhoro, DT Tyler Davis

Key games: vs. Florida State, Sept. 23; at Miami, Oct. 21; vs. Notre Dame, Nov. 4; vs. North Carolina, Nov. 18; at South Carolina, Nov. 25

After back-to-back underwhelming seasons, Clemson committed to a youth movement to end last year and should reap the rewards this year. Running back Will Shipley became an All-American. Quarterback Cade Klubnik looks like a future star. The defense has never been a problem and now the offense shouldn’t hold back the Tigers anymore. Clemson isn’t just the class of the ACC. The Tigers are true national-title contenders once again.

2. Florida State Seminoles

Coach: Mike Norvell

Players to watch: QB Jordan Travis, WR Johnny Wilson, OL Robert Scott, DE Jared Verse, CB Fentrell Cypress II

Key games: vs. LSU, Sept. 3 (in Orlando); at Clemson, Sept. 23; vs. Duke, Oct. 21; at Wake Forest, Oct. 28; vs. Miami, Nov. 11

Once All-American defensive end Jared Verse decided to return to Florida State for another year, the hype machine went into full gear in Tallahassee. Quarterback Jordan Travis has gotten better every year, wide receiver Johnny Wilson blossomed into a star and a true No. 1 target for Travis and the Seminoles finished last season on a six-game winning streak for their first 10-win season since 2016. They rank No. 1 in the nation in returning production, which, along with an easy schedule, is why a leap back to the ranks of the elite is possible — at least for one year.

3. Miami Hurricanes

Coach: Mario Cristobal

Players to watch: T Zion Nelson, G Javion Cohen, DE Akheem Mesidor, DT Leonard Taylor, S Kamren Kinchens

Key games: vs. Texas A&M, Sept. 9; at North Carolina, Oct. 14; vs. Clemson, Oct. 21; vs. Virginia, Oct. 28; at Florida State, Nov. 11

While Florida State returned to form last year, Miami crashed and failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2007. The Hurricanes have a potential calling card, though: Their offensive line might just be the best in the ACC. It’s coach Mario Cristobal’s specialty — he was previously an offensive line coach at Alabama and Oregon — and offensive linemen Zion Nelson, Javion Cohen and Jalen Rivers all have the potential to be early-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. The X-factor, however, is quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2021, only to be entirely derailed by injuries and a coaching chance last season.

4. North Carolina Tar Heels

Coach: Mack Brown

Players to watch: QB Drake Maye, TE Bryson Nesbit, LB Power Echols, LB Cedric Gray, P Ben Kiernan

Key games: vs. South Carolina, Sept. 2 (in Charlotte); vs. Miami, Oct. 14; vs. Virginia, Oct. 21; vs. Duke, Nov. 11; at Clemson, Nov. 18

Superstar quarterback Drake Maye is on the short list of Heisman Trophy favorites and should singlehandedly make North Carolina’s offense great. The question marks are on defense, where star linebacker Cedric Gray is one of the few proven contributors returning. In the ACC, one elite side of the ball should be enough to keep the Tar Heels near the top of the conference.

5. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Coach: Dave Clawson

Players to watch: WR Jahmal Banks, WR Donavon Greene, OL Michael Jurgens, DL Jasheen Davis, CB Caelen Carson

Key games: at Clemson, Oct. 7; vs. Florida State, Oct. 28; at Duke, Nov. 2; at Notre Dame, Nov. 18

Former quarterback Sam Hartman is gone, transferring to Notre Dame, after rewriting Wake Forest’s record book, but the coaches who helped turn him into one of the league’s top quarterbacks are still around. The Demon Deacons also have four of their top five receivers back from last year, led by star wide receiver Jahmal Banks, and a potential star cornerback in Caelen Carson to lead the defense. There’s still plenty to like in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

6. Louisville Cardinals

Coach: Jeff Brohm

Players to watch: RB Jawhar Jordan, WR Jamari Thrash, C Bryan Hudson, CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB Storm Duck

Key games: vs. Indiana, Sept. 16 (in Indianapolis); vs. Notre Dame, Oct. 7; vs. Duke, Oct. 28; vs. Virginia, Nov. 9; at Miami, Nov. 18

It has been a tumultuous few seasons for Louisville, which was one of the worst teams in the ACC in 2021 and then bounced back in 2022, only to watch former coach Scott Satterfield then leave for Cincinnati — less than a year after he was on the hot seat. New coach Jeff Brohm now takes over at his alma mater and has a pretty solid foundation to work with, especially after the Cardinals added star cornerback Storm Duck as a transfer in just April.

7. Duke Blue Devils

Coach: Mike Elko

Players to watch: QB Riley Leonard, WR Jalon Calhoun, T Graham Barton, DL DeWayne Carter, S Jaylen Stinson

Key games: vs. Clemson, Sept. 4; vs. Notre Dame, Sept. 30; at Florida State, Oct. 21; at North Carolina, Nov. 11; at Virginia, Nov. 18

Duke was one of the biggest surprises in the ACC last year, going from just 10 combined wins in the final three seasons with former coach David Cutcliffe to nine wins and a bowl victory in coach Mike Elko’s debut campaign, and it has the Blue Devils on the long list of other contenders in the league to try to challenge Clemson and Florida State. Most of the top players from last year are also back, including star tackle Graham Barton, quarterback Riley Leonard and wide receiver Jalon Calhoun.

8. Pittsburgh Panthers

Coach: Pat Narduzzi

Players to watch: RB Rodney Hammond Jr., OL Matt Goncalves, CB M.J. Devonshire, CB A.J. Woods, K Ben Sauls

Key games: at West Virginia, Sept. 16; vs. North Carolina, Sept. 23; at Notre Dame, Oct. 28; vs. Florida State, Nov. 4; at Duke, Nov. 25

For the second straight year, Pittsburgh’s offense is in flux. At this time last year, the Panthers were trying to figure out how to replace former quarterback Kenny Pickett, who’s already starting for the Steelers. Now, the Panthers are trying to replace their leading passer, rusher and receiver from last season, and this time there’s not a ton of defensive experience to lean on, either. The Panthers need to find some new stars and, other than maybe cornerback A.J. Woods, there’s not a many obvious ones in waiting.

9. NC State Wolfpack

Coach: Dave Doeren

Players to watch: QB Brennan Armstrong, WR Julian Gray, DL Davin Vann, LB Payton Wilson, CB Aydan White

Key games: vs. Notre Dame, Sept. 9; at Virginia, Sept. 22; vs. Clemson, Oct. 28; vs. Miami, Nov. 4; vs. North Carolina, Nov. 25

NC State’s defense should be great. The offense will hinge on whether new quarterback Brennan Armstrong and new offensive coordinator Robert Anae, reunited after they worked together brilliantly two years ago at Virginia, can impress their own image upon the rest of the group. Armstrong threw for 4,449 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2021, so there’s a chance it all goes great.

10. Syracuse Orange

Coach: Dino Babers

Players to watch: RB LeQuint Allen, WR Oronde Gadsden II, WR Trebor Pena, DL Caleb Okechukwu, LB Marlowe Wax

Key games: vs. Clemson, Sept. 30; at North Carolina, Oct. 7; at Florida State, Oct. 14; vs. Wake Forest, Nov. 25

Former All-American running back Sean Tucker is gone, but Syracuse pivoted away from being too overly reliant on the tailback last year and moved into the top 25 at one point because of it. Quarterback Garrett Schrader and wide reciever Oronde Gadsden II former one of the best quarterback-receiver tandems in the conference and are both back, except they’ll have to try to replicate their success without Anae, who left for Raleigh, North Carolina.

11. Virginia Cavaliers

Coach: Tony Elliott

Players to watch: DE Chico Bennett Jr., DL Aaron Faumui, S Antonio Clary, P Daniel Sparks

Key games: at North Carolina, Oct. 21; at Miami, Oct. 28; at Louisville, Nov. 9; vs. Duke, Nov. 18

Tragedy still hangs over Virginia after four players were killed in a shooting last year and the Cavaliers canceled their final two games of the season. They’ll try to return to some sense of normalcy this year in coach Tony Elliott’s second season. One potential bright spot for Virginia should be star defensive end Chico Bennett Jr., who had seven sacks and two forced fumbles last year.

12. Virginia Tech Hokies

Coach: Brent Pry

Players to watch: WR Tucker Holloway, WR Ali Jennings III, OL Kaden Moore, CB Mansoor Delane, P Peter Moore

Key games: at Rutgers, Sept. 16; at Florida State, Oct. 7; vs. Wake Forest, Oct. 14; at Louisville, Nov. 4; at Virginia, Nov. 25

Virginia Tech is in the midst of a true rebuild and it could take a few more years for coach Brent Pry to get the Hokies back anywhere close to where they want to be. Virginia Tech hasn’t won more than six games since 2019 and hasn’t won a bowl game since 2016. The Hokies have had three straight losing seasons for the first time since the 1970s.

13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Coach: Brent Key

Players to watch: RB Dontae Smith, DL D’Quan Douse, LB Andre White, S LaMiles Brooks

Key games: at Miami, Oct. 7; vs. North Carolina, Oct. 28; at Virginia, Nov. 4; at Clemson, Nov. 11; vs. Georgia, Nov. 25

Coach Brent Key earned the job at Georgia Tech after taking over as interim coach with eight games left and leading the Yellow Jackets to a .500 record the rest of the way. Now, it’s time to see if those flashes were a sign of what’s to come in Atlanta. Like so many first-year coaches, Key was aggressive in the transfer portal, looking for an early boost by adding a handful of players, including linebacker Andre White, who dazzled in a limited role last year at Texas A&M.

14. Boston College Eagles

Coach: Jeff Hafley

Players to watch: WR Ryan O’Keefe, OL Christian Mahogany, DE Donovan Ezeiruaku, LB Vinny DePalma, CB Elijah Jones

Key games: vs. Florida State, Sept. 16; at Louisville, Sept. 23; vs. Virginia, Sept. 30; vs. Miami, Nov. 24

Boston College was one of the worst teams in the ACC last year, even with quarterback Phil Jurkovic and star wide receiver Zay Flowers. Now, Jurkovic is a conference rival with the Panthers and Flowers is on the Ravens after he was a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the challenge for the Eagles is even steeper. If there’s one bright spot, it should be defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku, who had 7 1/2 sacks and three forced fumbles last year.