Pittsburgh
Last year: 8-5 (5-3 ACC), lost to Northwestern, 31-24, in Pinstripe Bowl
Best win: at Clemson, 43-42 Worst loss: bowl loss
Coach: Pat Narduzzi (third year, 16-10)
Starters returning: 11 (6 offense, 4 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: QB Max Browne. With the graduation and progression to the NFL of Nathan Peterman, the Panthers need a new QB. The offseason competition has included Browne, a graduate transfer from USC, last year's backup Ben NiDucci, redshirt freshman Thomas MacVittie, true freshman Kenny Pickett, and Division III transfer Jake Zilinskas. Browne appears to be the favorite to win the role. He started the first three games of the Trojans' 2016 season but was replaced by Sam Darnold, who revived USC's season and is being touted as a possible No. 1 pick in next year's draft. Browne completed 62.4 percent of his passes last season for 507 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks as USC went 1-2 in the games he started. When he originally signed on to play at USC in 2013, he was considered perhaps the best QB prospect in the nation.
Defensive player to watch: S Jordan Whitehead. The junior, who has garnered all-ACC recognition the past two seasons, must sit out the first three games this year for a violation of team rules. But last year, he compiled 65 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and a pick for a TD (against Virginia). He's scored a defensive TD in each of his first two seasons. He's also been used a few times to carry the ball on offense.
Special teams player to watch: Quadree Henderson. The junior is one of the best return men in the nation. Last year, he returned punts an average of 15.8 yards (third in NCAA) and scored one TD and returned kicks an average of 30.5 yards (fifth) and scored three TDs (one against UVa).
Schedule: vs. Youngstown State, at Penn State, vs. Oklahoma State, at Georgia Tech, vs. Rice, at Syracuse, vs. N.C. State, at Duke, vs. Virginia, vs. North Carolina, at Virginia Tech, vs. Miami.
Outlook: After two consecutive 8-4 seasons followed by bowl losses, Pittsburgh is looking to take the
next step under Narduzzi. One could argue last year's team should've been better, as you'd expect a team that beats Clemson on the road to accumulate more than eight wins and a loss in the Pinstripe Bowl to a .500 team. Throw out the 51-28 setback against Miami, and the Panthers' other four losses came by an average of 4.5 points. Oddly enough, it was the defense, which returned eight starters, that often let down Pitt, strange since Narduzzi was an ace defensive coordinator for Michigan State before coming to Pitt. The Panthers gave up 35.2 points and 452.8 yards per game. This year's unit returns just four starters. In addition to Whitehead, a couple other players to watch are cornerback Avonte Maddox (49 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, three picks) and linebacker Oluwaseun Idowu (74 tackles, two for loss), who finished third on the team in tackles last season. The offensive line returns three starters, though one of those, Alex Bookser, is suspended for the opener. The loss of running back James Conner, in some ways the heart and soul of the team, is a big hit, but the backfield should still be in good hands with Henderson (631 yards, five TDs), Chawntez Moss (227 yards, one TD) and Darrin Hall (160 yards). Additionally, Qadree Ollison, who didn't produce much last season, will look to get back on track after rushing for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman filling in for Conner when he had cancer two years ago. Playmaking receiver Jester Weah is back in the fold after 36 catches for 824 yards and 10 TDs in 2016. His 24.2 yards per catch ranked first in the ACC and second nationally. The loss of some players off a struggling defense plus the absence of Conner and Peterman make me think this squad will take a step back this season, but maybe I'll be wrong if it can find a way to win close games or if Browne maxes out his potential.
Win-loss prediction: 7-5 or 8-4
Virginia Tech
Last year: 10-4 (6-2 ACC), lost, 42-35, to Clemson in ACC title game, beat Arkansas, 31-24, in Belk Bowl
Best win: at North Carolina, 34-3 Worst loss: at Syracuse, 31-17
Coach: Justin Fuente (second year, 36-27 career)
Starters returning: 14 (5 offense, 8 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: WR Cam Phillips. The senior wideout has often played second fiddle to wideout Isaiah Ford and tight end Bucky Hodges, but with those guys now trying to make it in the NFL, Phillips takes center stage. And he's always been very talented in his own right. Last year, he caught 76 balls for 983 yards and five TDs. He also ran for 140 yards.
Defensive player to watch: LB Tremaine Edmunds. Last season as a sophomore, Edmunds recorded 106 tackles, 18.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, and an interception.
Special teams player to watch: K Joey Slye. A senior this coming season, Slye made 20 of 27 field goals last season and is 63 of 85 for his career. (74.1 percent).
Schedule: vs. West Virginia (in Landover, Md.), vs. Delaware, at East Carolina, vs. Old Dominion, vs. Clemson, at Boston College, vs. North Carolina, vs. Duke, at Miami, at Georgia Tech, vs. Pittsburgh, at Virginia.
Outlook: Fuente, known as a quarterback and offensive guru, gave a great boost to that side of the ball in his first season, upping the unit's scoring average to 35 points. In 2015, the Hokies averaged 30, 23.2 in 2014, 20.7 in 2013, and 23.7 in 2012. As a result, the Hokies returned to the 10-win plateau they enjoyed from 2004-2011. At QB, junior college transfer Jerod Evans translated very nicely to Division I, and he ended up being a star for the Hokies, completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 3,552 yards, 29 touchdowns, and eight picks. He also led the team in rushing with 846 yards and 12 TDs. Despite some flaws in his game, he decided to leave a year early and go to the NFL, where he was not drafted.
But that leaves a big hole for Fuente to fill. To do so, the Hokies are going with redshirt freshman Josh Jackson, who was named the starter last week. The dual-threat signal-caller has impressed in practice since he arrived on campus last year and feels like he's ready to step in. He will have three returning starters on the offensive line protecting him. In the backfield, Travon McMillian returns after rushing for 671 yards and seven TDs -- he's capable of more, having recorded just north of 1,000 yards in 2015. He caught just 11 passes last season, but they went for three scores. At receiver, Tech has a dearth of experience. Phillips is great, but behind him are mostly unproven players. C.J. Carroll (18 catches, 258 yards), Chris Cunningham, Henri Murphy, and Eric Kumah are names to watch. Perhaps buoyed by a better offense last season, the defense got back to some of its intimidating ways. Bud Foster's unit has plenty of experience going into this campaign. In addition to Edmunds, watch out for linebacker and leading tackler Andrew Motuapuaka (114 tackles, 5.5 for loss, two sacks), versatile lineman Vinny Mihota (43 tackles, seven for loss, two sacks; also, brother of Anthony, who was an OL at UVa), and Tremaine's brother Terrell Edmunds (89 tackles, 2.5 for loss, four picks), who is moving from "rover" to safety. This unit might have to carry the team early as a relatively inexperienced offense finds its way. The WVU game is obviously big and could be a tone-setter. If the Hokies win that neutral-field matchup, chances are pretty good the team will be 4-0 when it hosts Clemson in a huge contest. Games at Miami and Georgia Tech are the Hokies' other main potential stumbling blocks. If Fuente is able to mold the offense into what he wants, there's no reason the Hokies shouldn't be able to compete for the Coastal Division title again.
Win-loss prediction: 8-4 or 9-3
Last year: 8-5 (5-3 ACC), lost to Northwestern, 31-24, in Pinstripe Bowl
Best win: at Clemson, 43-42 Worst loss: bowl loss
Coach: Pat Narduzzi (third year, 16-10)
Starters returning: 11 (6 offense, 4 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: QB Max Browne. With the graduation and progression to the NFL of Nathan Peterman, the Panthers need a new QB. The offseason competition has included Browne, a graduate transfer from USC, last year's backup Ben NiDucci, redshirt freshman Thomas MacVittie, true freshman Kenny Pickett, and Division III transfer Jake Zilinskas. Browne appears to be the favorite to win the role. He started the first three games of the Trojans' 2016 season but was replaced by Sam Darnold, who revived USC's season and is being touted as a possible No. 1 pick in next year's draft. Browne completed 62.4 percent of his passes last season for 507 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks as USC went 1-2 in the games he started. When he originally signed on to play at USC in 2013, he was considered perhaps the best QB prospect in the nation.
Defensive player to watch: S Jordan Whitehead. The junior, who has garnered all-ACC recognition the past two seasons, must sit out the first three games this year for a violation of team rules. But last year, he compiled 65 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and a pick for a TD (against Virginia). He's scored a defensive TD in each of his first two seasons. He's also been used a few times to carry the ball on offense.
Special teams player to watch: Quadree Henderson. The junior is one of the best return men in the nation. Last year, he returned punts an average of 15.8 yards (third in NCAA) and scored one TD and returned kicks an average of 30.5 yards (fifth) and scored three TDs (one against UVa).
Schedule: vs. Youngstown State, at Penn State, vs. Oklahoma State, at Georgia Tech, vs. Rice, at Syracuse, vs. N.C. State, at Duke, vs. Virginia, vs. North Carolina, at Virginia Tech, vs. Miami.
Outlook: After two consecutive 8-4 seasons followed by bowl losses, Pittsburgh is looking to take the
Win-loss prediction: 7-5 or 8-4
Virginia Tech
Last year: 10-4 (6-2 ACC), lost, 42-35, to Clemson in ACC title game, beat Arkansas, 31-24, in Belk Bowl
Best win: at North Carolina, 34-3 Worst loss: at Syracuse, 31-17
Coach: Justin Fuente (second year, 36-27 career)
Starters returning: 14 (5 offense, 8 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: WR Cam Phillips. The senior wideout has often played second fiddle to wideout Isaiah Ford and tight end Bucky Hodges, but with those guys now trying to make it in the NFL, Phillips takes center stage. And he's always been very talented in his own right. Last year, he caught 76 balls for 983 yards and five TDs. He also ran for 140 yards.
Defensive player to watch: LB Tremaine Edmunds. Last season as a sophomore, Edmunds recorded 106 tackles, 18.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, and an interception.
Special teams player to watch: K Joey Slye. A senior this coming season, Slye made 20 of 27 field goals last season and is 63 of 85 for his career. (74.1 percent).
Schedule: vs. West Virginia (in Landover, Md.), vs. Delaware, at East Carolina, vs. Old Dominion, vs. Clemson, at Boston College, vs. North Carolina, vs. Duke, at Miami, at Georgia Tech, vs. Pittsburgh, at Virginia.
Outlook: Fuente, known as a quarterback and offensive guru, gave a great boost to that side of the ball in his first season, upping the unit's scoring average to 35 points. In 2015, the Hokies averaged 30, 23.2 in 2014, 20.7 in 2013, and 23.7 in 2012. As a result, the Hokies returned to the 10-win plateau they enjoyed from 2004-2011. At QB, junior college transfer Jerod Evans translated very nicely to Division I, and he ended up being a star for the Hokies, completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 3,552 yards, 29 touchdowns, and eight picks. He also led the team in rushing with 846 yards and 12 TDs. Despite some flaws in his game, he decided to leave a year early and go to the NFL, where he was not drafted.
Win-loss prediction: 8-4 or 9-3
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