A 2025 ACC Preview ft. Special Guest Notre Dame

Alex Wilcox17 mins

The Standings Projection

Projected Order of FinishProjected Record
1. Clemson 11-1 (7-1)
2. Miami (FL)9-3 (7-1)
3. Georgia Tech 9-3 (6-2)
4. Louisville9-3 (5-3)
5. Duke 9-3 (5-3)
6. North Carolina 8-4 (5-3)
7. Florida State7-5 (5-3)
8. Pittsburgh 8-4 (4-4)
9. SMU7-5 (4-4)
10. NC State 7-5 (4-4)
11. Virginia Tech6-6 (4-4)
12. Boston College 6-6 (4-4)
13. Syracuse5-7 (3-5)
14. Virginia 5-7 (2-6)
15. Wake Forest4-8 (1-7)
16. California3-9 (1-7)
17. Stanford2-10 (1-7)
Independent
Notre Dame11-1

The Team Breakdowns

Clemson defensive linemen TJ Parker and Peter Woods celebrate a TFL against UVA (Photo: Gannett – USA TODAY Sports).

Clemson

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Cade Klubnik (Sr.)6’2, 210
RB Adam Randall (Sr.)6’2, 225
WR Antonio Williams (Jr.)5’11, 190
WR Bryant Wesco Jr. (So.)6’2, 180
RT Blake Miller (Sr.)6’6, 315
Defense
DE TJ Parker (Jr.)6’3, 265
DT Peter Woods (Jr.)6’3, 315
LB Wade Woodaz (Sr.)6’3, 235
CB Avieon Terrell (Jr.)5’11, 180
FS Khalil Barnes (Jr.)6’0, 195

Coaches

HC: Dabo Swinney (180-47), 18th Season

OC: Garrett Riley

DC: Tom Allen

Projected Record: 11-1 (7-1), 1st ACC

New Miami Hurricanes QB Carson Beck at Miami’s 2025 Fall Camp Media Day (Photo: Justice Sandle – SI).

Miami (FL)

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Carson Beck (Sr.)6’4, 220
RB Mark Fletcher (Jr.)6’2, 225
WR CJ Daniels (Sr.)6’2, 205
WR JoJo Trader (So.)6’1, 180
RT Francis Mauigoa (Jr.)6’6, 315
Defense
DE Rueben Bain Jr. (Jr.)6’3, 270
DT Akheem Mesidor (Sr.)6’3, 280
LB Wesley Bissainthe (Sr.)6’1, 215
CB O.J. Frederique (So.)6’0, 180
S Zechariah Poyser (So.)6’2, 170

Coaches

HC: Mario Cristobal (22-16), 4th Season

OC: Shannon Dawson

DC: Corey Hetherman

Projected Record: 9-3 (7-1), 2nd ACC

Georgia Tech QB Haynes King (10) hands off to RB Jamal Haynes (11) in a 2024 Gasparilla Bowl victory over UCF (Photo: Julio Aguilar – Getty Images).

Georgia Tech

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Haynes King (Sr.)6’3, 215
RB Jamal Haynes (Sr.)5’9, 190
WR Eric Rivers (Sr.)5’11, 175
WR Dean Patterson (Sr.)6’2, 205
RG Keylan Rutledge (Sr.)6’4, 310
Defense
DT Jordan van den Berg (Sr.)6’3, 305
LB Kyle Efford (Jr.)6’2, 230
LB Melvin Jordan IV (Jr.)5’11, 225
CB Ahmari Harvey (Sr.)6’0, 190
S Clayton Powell-Lee (Sr.)6’2, 195

Coaches

HC: Brent Key (18-16), 4th Season

OC: Buster Faulkner

DC: Blake Gideon

Projected Record: 9-3 (6-2), 3rd ACC

Louisville RB Isaac Brown breaks away for a TD against Austin Peay in 2024 (Photo: Jamie Rhodes – USA TODAY Sports).

Louisville

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Miller Moss (Jr.)6’2, 210
RB Isaac Brown (So.)5’9, 190
WR Chris Bell (Sr.)6’2, 220
WR Caullin Lacy (Sr.)5’10, 190
C Peter Nygra (Sr.)6’4 ,300
Defense
DT Rene Konga (Sr.)6’4, 300
DE Adonijah Green (So.)6’6, 250
LB Stanquan Clark (Jr.)6’3, 235
LB T.J. Quinn (Sr.)6’1, 235
CB Jaden Minkins (Sr.)5’10, 180

Coaches

HC: Jeff Brohm (19-8), 3rd Season

OC: Brian Brohm

DC: Ron English, Mark Hagen

Projected Record: 9-3 (5-3), 4th ACC

Duke Senior Cornerback Chandler Rivers (Photo: 247 Sports).

Duke

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Darian Mensah (So.)6’3, 205
RB Jaquez Moore (Sr.)5’10, 205
WR Sahmir Hagans (Sr.)5’10, 190
LT Bruno Fina (Sr.)6’5, 300
RT Brian Parker II (So.)6’5, 300
Defense
DE Vincent Anthony (Sr.)6’6, 250
DE Wesley Williams (Jr.)6’3, 265
LB Tre Freeman (Sr.)6’0, 230
CB Chandler Rivers (Sr.)5’10, 185
S Terry Moore (Sr.)6’1, 195

Coaches

HC: Manny Diaz (9-4), 2nd Season

OC: Jonathan Brewer

DC: Jonathan Patke

Projected Record: 9-3 (5-3), 5th ACC

New UNC HC Bill Belichick instructs his team at a recent practice (Photo: Getty Images).

North Carolina

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Gio Lopez (So.)6’0, 220
RB Davion Gause (So.)5’11, 215
WR Kobe Paysour (Sr.)6’1, 190
WR Jordan Shipp (So.)6’1, 190
RG Daniel King (Sr.)6’5, 340
Defense
DE Pryce Yates (Sr.)6’4, 265
DT Isaiah Johnson (Jr.)6’1, 322
LB Mikai Gbayor (Jr.)6’2, 230
CB Thaddeus Dixon (Sr.)6’1, 185
FS Will Hardy (Sr.)6’2, 205

Coaches

HC: Bill Belichick, 1st Season in CFB

OC: Freddie Kitchens

DC: Steve Belichick

Projected Record: 8-4 (5-3), 6th ACC

Florida State Head Coach Mike Norvell is entering his 6th season in Tallahassee (Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack – AP Photo).

Florida State

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Tommy Castellanos (Sr.)5’11, 201
RB Roydell Williams (Sr.)5’10, 221
WR Duce Robinson (Jr.)6’6, 222
WR Squirrel White (Sr.)5’10, 170
RT Micah Pettus (Sr.)6’7, 355
Defense
DT Darrell Jackson (Sr.)6’5, 337
DE Deante McCray (Jr.)6’4, 274
LB Omar Graham (Jr.)6’1, 235
NB Earl Little Jr. (Jr.)6’1, 193
S K.J. Kirkland (So.)6’1, 212

Coaches

HC: Mike Norvell (33-27), 6th Season

OC: Gus Malzahn

DC: Tony White

Projected Record: 7-5 (5-3), 7th ACC

Pitt QB Eli Holstein looks downfield in a 2024 contest with West Virginia (Photo: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).

Pittsburgh

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Eli Holstein (So.)6’4, 225
RB Desmond Reid (Sr.)5’8, 175
WR Kenny Johnson (Jr.)6’1, 200
TE Jake Overman (Sr.)6’4, 240
C Lyndon Cooper (Sr.)6’2, 315
Defense
DT Nick James (Jr.)6’2, 280
DE Jimmy Scott (Jr.)6’3, 255
LB Rasheem Biles (Jr.)6’1, 220
LB Kyle Louis (Jr.)6’0, 225
CB Rashad Battle (Sr.)6’3, 195

Coaches

HC: Pat Narduzzi (72-56), 11th Season

OC: Kade Bell

DC: Randy Bates

Projected Record: 8-4 (4-4), 8th ACC

SMU HC Rhett Lashlee consoles QB Kevin Jennings after a 2024 CFP loss to Penn State (Photo: Mitchell Leff – Getty Images).

SMU

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Kevin Jennings (Jr.)6’0, 185
RB Derrick McFall (Fr.)5’11, 183
WR Jordan Hudson (Sr.)6’1, 191
TE Matthew Hibner (Sr.)6’5, 251
RT PJ Williams (Jr.)6’5, 317
Defense
DE Isaiah Smith (Sr.)6’4, 244
DT Jeffrey M’Ba (Sr.)6’6, 302
LB Alexander Kilgore (Jr.)6’1, 230
CB Deuce Harmon (Sr.)5’10, 191
S Isaiah Nwokobia (Sr.)6’1, 202

Coaches

HC: Rhett Lashlee (29-12), 5th Season

OC: Casey Woods

DC: Scott Symons

Projected Record: 7-5 (4-4), 9th ACC

NC State Sophomore QB CJ Bailey (Photo: NC State Athletics).

NC State

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB CJ Bailey (So.)6’6, 210
RB Hollywood Smothers (So.)5’11, 195
WR Noah Rogers (So.)6’2, 205
TE Justin Joly (Sr.)6’3, 251
LT Jacarrius Peak (Jr.)6’4, 298
Defense
DE Travali Price (Sr.)6’4, 283
DT Brandon Cleveland (Sr.)6’4, 315
LB Sean Brown (Sr.)6’0, 216
LB Caden Fordham (Sr.)6’1, 232
S Ronnie Royal III (Fr.)5’9, 185

Coaches

HC: Dave Doeren (87-65), 13th Season

OC: Kurt Roper

DC: D.J. Eliot

Projected Record: 7-5 (4-4), 10th ACC

Virginia Tech Head Coach Brent Pry is entering his 4th season as the boss man in Blacksburg (Photo: Virginia Tech Athletics).

Virginia Tech

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Kyron Drones (Sr.)6’2, 235
RB Terion Stewart (Sr.)5’9, 220
WR Cameron Seldon (Jr.)6’1, 211
TE Benji Gosnell (Jr.)6’5, 254
LT Johnny Garrett (Jr.)6’5, 318
Defense
DT Kelvin Gilliam Jr. (Sr.)6’3, 295
LB Jaden Keller (Sr.)6’3, 235
LB Caleb Woodson (Jr.)6’3, 230
CB Dante Lovett (Jr.)6’0, 200
S Tyson Flowers (Jr.)5’11, 204

Coaches

HC: Brent Pry (16-21), 4th Season

OC: Philip Montgomery

DC: Sam Siefkes

Projected Record: 6-6 (4-4), 11th ACC

Boston College Head Coach Bill O’Brien (Photo: Steve Buckley – The Athletic).

Boston College

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Dylan Lonergan (So.)6’2, 211
RB Turbo Richard (So.)5’8, 200
WR Lewis Bond (Sr.)5’11, 199
TE Jeremiah Franklin (Sr.)6’3, 246
LG Logan Taylor (Sr.)6’7, 308
Defense
DE Quintayvious Hutchins (Sr.)6’3, 246
LB Daveon Crouch (Sr.)6’1, 227
CB Cam Martinez (Sr.)5’10, 185
CB Max Tucker (Jr.)5’11, 187
S KP Price (Jr.)6’1, 200

Coaches

HC: Bill O’Brien (7-6), 2nd Season

OC: Will Lawing

DC: Tim Lewis

Projected Record: 6-6 (4-4), 12th ACC

Second year Syracuse Head Coach Fran Brown and his staff in 2024 (Photo: Syracuse Athletics).

Syracuse

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Steve Angeli (Jr.)6’2, 205
RB Will Nixon (Sr.)5’11, 202
WR Johntay Cook II (Jr.)6’0, 185
WR Darrell Gill (Jr.)6’3, 173
LT Da’Metrius Weatherspoon (Sr.)6’7, 330
Defense
DE Denis Jaquez (Sr.)6’4, 259
DT George Rooks (Sr.)6’5, 270
LB Derek McDonald (Sr.)6’4, 232
CB Devin Grant (Sr.)6’4, 199
S Duce Chestnut (Sr.)6’0, 200

Coaches

HC: Fran Brown,(10-3), 2nd Season

OC: Jeff Nixon

DC: Elijah Robinson

Projected Record: 5-7 (3-5), 13th ACC

UVA Linebacker James Jackson (Photo: Kris Wright – thesabre.com).

Virginia

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Chandler Morris (Sr.)6’0, 192
RB J’Mari Taylor (Sr.)5’9, 204
WR Trell Harris (Sr.)6’0, 200
TE Dakota Twitty (Sr.)6’5, 245
LT McKale Boley (Sr.)6’5, 316
Defense
DT Jahmeer Carter (Sr.)6’2, 311
DE Mitchell Melton (Sr.)6’4, 256
LB Kam Robinson (Jr.)6’2, 234
LB James Jackson (Sr.)6’3, 234
S Antonio Clary (Sr.)6’0, 204

Coaches

HC: Tony Elliot (11-23), 4th Season

OC: Des Kitchings

DC: John Rudzinski

Projected Record: 5-7 (2-6), 14th ACC

Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne celebrates after scoring a TD against Clemson in 2023 (Photo: Wake Forest Athletics).

Wake Forest

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Robby Ashford (Sr.)6’2, 220
RB Demond Claiborne (Sr.)5’10, 195
WR Micah Mays Jr. (So.)6’2, 196
TE Michael Frogge (Sr.)6’6, 243
LT Melvin Siani (So.)6’6, 302
Defense
DE BJ Williams (Sr.)6’4, 273
LB Dylan Hazen (Sr.)6’1, 239
CB Jaxon Mull (Jr.)5’10, 180
S Davaughn Patterson (So.)6’0, 217
S Nick Anderson (Sr.)5’11, 197

Coaches

HC: Jake Dickert, 1st Season

OC: Rob Ezell

DC: Scottie Hazelton

Projected Record: 4-8 (1-7), 15th ACC

Cal Head Coach Justin Wilcox is entering his 9th season in Berkeley (Photo: Elaine Thompson – AP File).

California

Key Players

Offense Height/Weight
QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (Fr.)6’3, 210
RB Jamaal Wiley (Fr.)6’0, 220
WR Trond Grizzell (Sr.)6’4, 205
TE Jeffrey Johnson (Sr.)6’5, 250
LT LaJuan Owens (So.)6’4, 355
Defense
DE Nate Burrell (Jr.)6’2, 295
NT Aidan Keanaaina (Sr.)6’3, 320
LB Cade Uluave (Jr.)6’1, 235
LB Ryan McCulloch (Jr.)6’3, 245
FS Tristan Dunn (Jr.)6’5, 205

Coaches

HC: Justin Wilcox (42-50), 9th Season

OC: Bryan Harsin

DC: Terrence Brown, Vic So’oto

Projected Record: 3-9 (1-7), 16th ACC

Stanford TE Sam Roush breaks away from a tackle against Colorado in 2024 (Photo: Stanford Athletics).

Stanford

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB Ben Gulbranson (Sr.)6’3, 216
RB Micah Ford (So.)6’0, 210
WR CJ Williams (Sr.)6’1, 195
TE Sam Roush (Sr.)6’5, 260
LT Kahlil House (So.)6’5, 285
Defense
DE Anthony Franklin (Sr.)6’3, 285
LB Tevarua Tafiti (Jr.)6’2, 240
CB Aaron Morris (Jr.)5’11, 200
CB Brandon Nicholson (So.)6’0, 185
SS Scotty Edwards (Sr.)6’1, 210

Coaches

HC: Frank Reich, 1st Season

OC: Nate Byham

DC: Bobby April III

Projected Record: 2-10 (1-7), 17th ACC

ACC Championship Game Prediction: Clemson 35, Miami (FL) 24

Independent

Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love breaks away for a TD at Notre Dame Stadium in 2024 (Photo: Rick Kimball – ISD).

Notre Dame

Key Players

OffenseHeight/Weight
QB CJ Carr (Fr.)6’2, 209
RB Jeremiyah Love (Jr.)6’0, 212
WR Jaden Greathouse (Jr.)6’1, 210
WR Malachi Fields (Sr.)6’4, 220
RG Charles Jagusah (So.)6’7, 320
Defense
DE Boubacar Traore (So.)6’4, 238
LB Drayk Bowen (Jr.)6’2, 238
NB DeVonta Smith (Jr.)6’2, 232
CB Leonard Moore (So.)6’2, 190
CB Christian Gray (Jr.)6’0, 187

Coaches

HC: Marcus Freeman (33-10), 4th Season

OC: Mike Denbrock

DC: Chris Ash

Projected Record: 11-1

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