N.C. State
Last year: 7-6 (3-5 ACC), lost 51-28 to Mississippi State in Belk Bowl
Best win: vs. Syracuse, 42-29 Worst loss: bowl loss
Coach: Dave Doeren (fourth year, 18-20)
Starters returning: 16 (6 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Matthew Dayes. The senior played in eight games last year before getting hurt and averaged more than 100 yards per game while totaling 865 yards with 12 touchdowns on 6.5 yards per carry. He also caught 24 passes for 172 yards.
Defensive player to watch: DE Bradley Chubb. In 2015, Chubb recorded 69 tackles, 12 for loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception.
Special teams player to watch: Nyheim Hines. He returned kicks an average of 26.3 yards last season and scored a touchdown. The Pack was one of two FBS teams last season to finish in the top 20 in both
kick and punt returns.
Schedule: vs. William & Mary, at East Carolina, vs. Old Dominion, vs. Wake Forest, vs. Notre Dame, at Clemson, at Louisville, vs. Boston College, vs. Florida State, at Syracuse, vs. Miami, at North Carolina.
Outlook: Doeren, the former coach at Northern Illinois, has won 15 games the past two seasons with the Wolfpack, but fans and media alike wonder if the program is headed in the right direction. Recent success has built off of very easy non-conference schedules. In fact, Doeren's ACC record in Raleigh is 6-18, and he's 0-10 vs. top 25 teams, with every loss coming by double digits. This non-conference schedule, which includes ECU and Notre Dame, is definitely a step up. The Wolfpack will be working in a new offense this year, as Eli Drinkwitz comes over from Boise State. He still has to pick a QB, and the main contenders are last season's backup, Jalan McClendon, and Ryan Finldey, a transfer from, you guessed it, Boise State. The graduate senior could have a leg up in the competition since he already knows the offense. Plenty of starters returning on defense, a tougher schedule, and an uncertain QB situation should add up to a decent season, but progression is not a given.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
Clemson
Last year: 14-1 (8-0 ACC), beat North Carolina 45-37 for ACC title, beat Oklahoma 37-17 in national semifinals, lost 45-40 to Alabama in national championship
Best win: semifinal win
Coach: Dabo Swinney (ninth year, eighth full, 75-27)
Starters returning: 14 (8 offense, 4 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Deshaun Watson. The 2015 Heisman runner-up completed 67.8 percent of his passes in 2015 for 4,104 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for more than 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Defensive player to watch: LB Ben Boulware. As a junior, Boulware posted 82 tackles, eight for loss, 3.5 sacks, two picks, three forced fumbles, and one recovery.
Special teams player to watch: K Greg Huegel. He joined as a walk-on in August last year and was
incredible. He made 27 of his 32 fields goals; the 27 makes led the nation.
Schedule: at Auburn, vs. Troy, vs. South Carolina State, at Georgia Tech, vs. Louisville, at Boston College, vs. N.C. State, at Florida State, vs. Syracuse, vs. Pittsburgh, at Wake Forest, vs. South Carolina.
Outlook: The Tigers have a chance to be just as good as last year. The offense, which averaged just more than 38 points per game last season, will be incredible again with Watson coming back. He has plenty of weapons to work with in an offense that returns three linemen. Running back Wayne Gallman rushed for more than 1,500 yards with 13 touchdowns. Wideout Artavis Scott caught 93 passes for 901 yards and six touchdowns. Tight end Jordan Leggett had 40 receptions for 525 yards and eight touchdowns. The defense lost lots of contributors, but that happened last year as well, and the Tigers ended up being top 10 in the country in six defensive categories. The schedule shapes up fairly nicely. The Auburn road opener could be tricky, but those Tigers weren't very good last year. No non-ACC game looks as tough as the Notre Dame one from 2015. Obviously, as it has been in recent seasons, the Florida State matchup should be huge an carry ACC championship implications. Otherwise, the slate isn't that daunting. Clemson has reached elite status and now reloads as evidenced by the coaches poll, which ranks it No. 2 in the preseason.
Win-loss prediction: 11-1 or 12-0
Florida State
Last year: 10-3 (6-2 ACC), lost 38-24 to Houston in the Peach Bowl
Best win: at No. 10 Florida 27-2, though the Gators were weakened by that point; home wins over Miami and Louisville were also solid Worst loss: at Georgia Tech, 23-16
Coach: Jimbo Fisher (eighth year, 68-14)
Starters returning: 17 (11 offense, 6 defense, 0 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Dalvin Cook. As a sophomore, Cook ran for 1,691 yards and 19 touchdowns and also caught 24 balls for 244 yards and a score.
Defensive player to watch: LB DeMarcus Walker. A senior, Walker in 2015 racked up 58 tackles, 15.5 for loss, 10.5 sacks, one pick, and four forced fumbles.
Special teams player to watch: K Ricky Aguayo. The name is probably familiar. His brother, Roberto, is now with the Buccaneers but finished his career last season as one of the best kickers in the history of college football, converting on 88.5 percent of his field goals, third best all time. He never missed a field goal from 39 yards and in. Ricky sounds like he could be just as good. He made a 46- and 45-yarder in the
spring game.
Schedule: vs.Ole Miss (in Orlando), vs. Charleston Southern, at Louisville, at South Florida, vs. North Carolina, at Miami, vs. Wake Forest, vs. Clemson, at N.C. State, vs. Boston College, at Syracuse, vs. Florida.
Outlook: FSU definitely fell off last season, getting upset by 3-9 Georgia Tech and losing by at least 10 to both Clemson and Houston, the best teams on its schedule. Sean Maguire took over for the concussed Everett Golson midway through the year and ended up finishing the year as the starter, completing 59.3 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns and six picks. He was projected to lead the Seminoles in his fifth season, but hurt his foot this week and had to have surgery. He will miss at least four weeks. Deondre Francois, a redshirt freshman, is next man up and likely to start vs. Ole Miss. The schdule is fairly challenging overall, with the three FBS non-ACC games being against pretty good teams in Ole Miss (10 wins last season), South Florida (eight wins in 2015), and Florida (10 wins). Crossover ACC Coastal opponents in UNC and Miami are tough, too. With a shaky situation at QB and tough schedule, I could see FSU once again struggling to get back to the top status of a couple years ago.
Win-loss prediction: 8-4 or 9-3
Last year: 7-6 (3-5 ACC), lost 51-28 to Mississippi State in Belk Bowl
Best win: vs. Syracuse, 42-29 Worst loss: bowl loss
Coach: Dave Doeren (fourth year, 18-20)
Starters returning: 16 (6 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Matthew Dayes. The senior played in eight games last year before getting hurt and averaged more than 100 yards per game while totaling 865 yards with 12 touchdowns on 6.5 yards per carry. He also caught 24 passes for 172 yards.
Defensive player to watch: DE Bradley Chubb. In 2015, Chubb recorded 69 tackles, 12 for loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception.
Special teams player to watch: Nyheim Hines. He returned kicks an average of 26.3 yards last season and scored a touchdown. The Pack was one of two FBS teams last season to finish in the top 20 in both
Schedule: vs. William & Mary, at East Carolina, vs. Old Dominion, vs. Wake Forest, vs. Notre Dame, at Clemson, at Louisville, vs. Boston College, vs. Florida State, at Syracuse, vs. Miami, at North Carolina.
Outlook: Doeren, the former coach at Northern Illinois, has won 15 games the past two seasons with the Wolfpack, but fans and media alike wonder if the program is headed in the right direction. Recent success has built off of very easy non-conference schedules. In fact, Doeren's ACC record in Raleigh is 6-18, and he's 0-10 vs. top 25 teams, with every loss coming by double digits. This non-conference schedule, which includes ECU and Notre Dame, is definitely a step up. The Wolfpack will be working in a new offense this year, as Eli Drinkwitz comes over from Boise State. He still has to pick a QB, and the main contenders are last season's backup, Jalan McClendon, and Ryan Finldey, a transfer from, you guessed it, Boise State. The graduate senior could have a leg up in the competition since he already knows the offense. Plenty of starters returning on defense, a tougher schedule, and an uncertain QB situation should add up to a decent season, but progression is not a given.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
Clemson
Last year: 14-1 (8-0 ACC), beat North Carolina 45-37 for ACC title, beat Oklahoma 37-17 in national semifinals, lost 45-40 to Alabama in national championship
Best win: semifinal win
Coach: Dabo Swinney (ninth year, eighth full, 75-27)
Starters returning: 14 (8 offense, 4 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Deshaun Watson. The 2015 Heisman runner-up completed 67.8 percent of his passes in 2015 for 4,104 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for more than 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Defensive player to watch: LB Ben Boulware. As a junior, Boulware posted 82 tackles, eight for loss, 3.5 sacks, two picks, three forced fumbles, and one recovery.
Special teams player to watch: K Greg Huegel. He joined as a walk-on in August last year and was
Schedule: at Auburn, vs. Troy, vs. South Carolina State, at Georgia Tech, vs. Louisville, at Boston College, vs. N.C. State, at Florida State, vs. Syracuse, vs. Pittsburgh, at Wake Forest, vs. South Carolina.
Outlook: The Tigers have a chance to be just as good as last year. The offense, which averaged just more than 38 points per game last season, will be incredible again with Watson coming back. He has plenty of weapons to work with in an offense that returns three linemen. Running back Wayne Gallman rushed for more than 1,500 yards with 13 touchdowns. Wideout Artavis Scott caught 93 passes for 901 yards and six touchdowns. Tight end Jordan Leggett had 40 receptions for 525 yards and eight touchdowns. The defense lost lots of contributors, but that happened last year as well, and the Tigers ended up being top 10 in the country in six defensive categories. The schedule shapes up fairly nicely. The Auburn road opener could be tricky, but those Tigers weren't very good last year. No non-ACC game looks as tough as the Notre Dame one from 2015. Obviously, as it has been in recent seasons, the Florida State matchup should be huge an carry ACC championship implications. Otherwise, the slate isn't that daunting. Clemson has reached elite status and now reloads as evidenced by the coaches poll, which ranks it No. 2 in the preseason.
Win-loss prediction: 11-1 or 12-0
Florida State
Last year: 10-3 (6-2 ACC), lost 38-24 to Houston in the Peach Bowl
Best win: at No. 10 Florida 27-2, though the Gators were weakened by that point; home wins over Miami and Louisville were also solid Worst loss: at Georgia Tech, 23-16
Coach: Jimbo Fisher (eighth year, 68-14)
Starters returning: 17 (11 offense, 6 defense, 0 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Dalvin Cook. As a sophomore, Cook ran for 1,691 yards and 19 touchdowns and also caught 24 balls for 244 yards and a score.
Defensive player to watch: LB DeMarcus Walker. A senior, Walker in 2015 racked up 58 tackles, 15.5 for loss, 10.5 sacks, one pick, and four forced fumbles.
Special teams player to watch: K Ricky Aguayo. The name is probably familiar. His brother, Roberto, is now with the Buccaneers but finished his career last season as one of the best kickers in the history of college football, converting on 88.5 percent of his field goals, third best all time. He never missed a field goal from 39 yards and in. Ricky sounds like he could be just as good. He made a 46- and 45-yarder in the
Schedule: vs.Ole Miss (in Orlando), vs. Charleston Southern, at Louisville, at South Florida, vs. North Carolina, at Miami, vs. Wake Forest, vs. Clemson, at N.C. State, vs. Boston College, at Syracuse, vs. Florida.
Outlook: FSU definitely fell off last season, getting upset by 3-9 Georgia Tech and losing by at least 10 to both Clemson and Houston, the best teams on its schedule. Sean Maguire took over for the concussed Everett Golson midway through the year and ended up finishing the year as the starter, completing 59.3 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns and six picks. He was projected to lead the Seminoles in his fifth season, but hurt his foot this week and had to have surgery. He will miss at least four weeks. Deondre Francois, a redshirt freshman, is next man up and likely to start vs. Ole Miss. The schdule is fairly challenging overall, with the three FBS non-ACC games being against pretty good teams in Ole Miss (10 wins last season), South Florida (eight wins in 2015), and Florida (10 wins). Crossover ACC Coastal opponents in UNC and Miami are tough, too. With a shaky situation at QB and tough schedule, I could see FSU once again struggling to get back to the top status of a couple years ago.
Win-loss prediction: 8-4 or 9-3
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