N.C. State
Last year: 9-4 (5-3 ACC), lost to Texas A&M, 52-13, in Gator Bowl Best win: at Marshall, 37-20 Worst loss: bowl
Coach: Dave Doeren: seventh year (43-34, 66-38 career)
Starters returning: 12 (4 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: RB Ricky Person Jr. With QB Ryan Finley in the NFL, N.C. State will have to rely more on its running game, which has produced three different 1,000-yard backs the past three seasons. With tailback Reggie Gallaspy also gone, it's time for Person to step up. He finished with 112 carries for 471 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and a pair of TDs last season in nine games.
Defensive player to watch: DE James Smith-Williams. A senior this season, Smith-Williams
recorded 37 tackles, 9.5 for losses, six sacks, and a forced fumble in 2018.
Special teams player to watch: K Chris Dunn. As a true freshman, Dunn drilled 23 of his 26 attempts.
Schedule: vs. East Carolina, vs. Western Carolina, at West Virginia, vs. Ball State, at Florida State, vs. Syracuse, at Boston College, at Wake Forest, vs. Clemson, vs. Louisville, at Georgia Tech, vs. UNC.
Win-loss prediction: 7-5 or 8-4. Unless Florida State makes an unexpectedly big jump, second place in the Atlantic is probably going to come down to Syracuse at N.C. State on Oct. 10. N.C. State has a solid number of returners on defense, but the offense was decimated, with Finley and Gallaspy gone in addition to the top two receivers, Jakobi Meyers and Kelvin Harmon. Also, three players were lost off the offensive line. Right now, the starting quarterback looks to be Matthew McKay, a sophomore who won't be able to pass it like Finley, but has some running ability. McKay completed 7 of 8 passes last year for 87 yards in six games, so the sample size is small. He does have a promising receiver to throw to in Emeka Emezie, who finished third on the team with 53 receptions (11.6 yards per catch) with five TDs. The defense didn't lose as many players as the offense, but it must be better in pass defense, finishing last year at 108th in the country in passing yards allowed per game. In addition to Smith-Williams up front, the back end brings back cornerback Jarius Morehead, who piled up 81 tackles (second on the team) and led the Pack with three picks. The schedule is not overly daunting, especially early on and out of the ACC, but the second half is full of potential potholes for an inexperienced offense.
Clemson
Last year: 15-0 (8-0 ACC), won ACC championship, 42-10, over Pittsburgh; beat Notre Dame, 30-3, in national semifinal; defeated Alabama, 44-16, in national championship
Best win: 'Bama Worst loss: ummm :)
Coach: Dabo Swinney (12th year, 11th full, 116-30)
Starters returning: 12 (7 offense, 4 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: QB Trevor Lawrence. As a true freshman, Lawrence took over the reins of the offense a few weeks into the season and didn't look back, completing 65.2 percent of his passes for 3,280 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just four INTs. Can you imagine what he will do with a year of experience under his belt and a full season of starting, plus the majority of the offense back? He's a Heisman Trophy candidate if not the preseason front runner for the prestigious award.
Defensive player to watch: LB Isaiah Simmons. The Tigers lost their all-world defensive line to the
NFL but return their leading tackler. How lucky is that? Simmons finished last season with 97 tackles, 9.5 for losses, 1.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
Special teams player to watch: K B.T. Potter. A sophomore, Potter is expected to replace the graduated Greg Huegel as the team's kicker and has reportedly been solid at camp. He recorded a team-record 79 touchbacks last season on kickoffs.
Schedule: vs. Georgia Tech, vs. Texas A&M, at Syracuse, vs. Charlotte, at North Carolina, vs. Florida State, at Louisville, vs. Boston College, vs. Wofford, at N.C. State, vs. Wake Forest, at South Carolina.
Win-loss prediction: 11-1 or 12-0. In 2018, Clemson's defense was the headline coming into the season, and the offense ended up being awesome, too. This year, the offense is the headline. The defense probably won't be as dominant, but it should be plenty good enough for Clemson to win the ACC again and contend for a spot in the playoffs. In addition to Lawrence, Clemson returns running back Travis Etienne, who tallied 1,658 yards (8.1 yards per carry) and 24 TDs to go along with 12 receptions and a pair of receiving TDs. Lyn-J Dixon is in the backfield, too, and he ran for an absurd 8.8 ypc on just 62 carries and added five scores. Leading receiver Tee Higgins is back after 59 catches, 936 yards, and 12 TDs. Justyn Ross returns after 46 catches, 21.7 ypc, and nine TDs. And Amari Rodgers (55 catches, four TDs in '18), who tore his ACL in March, may only miss a month of the season. The line returns three starters. It is an embarrassment of riches on that side of the ball. The defense has two other key players back in safeties Tanner Muse (76 tackles, 2.5 for losses, two sacks, two picks, and a forced fumble) and Richmond-area product K'Von Wallace (55 tackles, 1.5 for losses, seven breakups, two forced fumbles, one INT). The schedule seems to have two games early in the season -- when the defense could be vulnerable -- where the Tigers could trip up, but they have advantages in each. One is Texas A&M, and the advantage is the game is in Death Valley, and the Aggies almost pulled off the upset last year in Texas, so Swinney is sure to have the guys ready. Likewise for the Syracuse matchup. The Orange have been Clemson's toughest opponent the past two seasons, even more so than Alabama. Syracuse shocked Clemson in the Carrier Dome two years ago, 27-24, then almost won in Death Valley last year, losing 27-23. So that will be a huge game if both don't falter early, but again, Swinney won't have to remind Clemson how tough Syracuse has been.
Florida State
Last year: 5-7 (3-5 ACC) Best win: vs. Wake Forest, 38-17 Worst loss: lots of candidates, but the 'Noles took it on the chin from archrival Florida, 41-14, at home to end the season; the Gators kept FSU from going to a bowl for a 37th consecutive season
Coach: Willie Taggart (second year, 52-57 career)
Starters returning: 17 (7 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB James Blackman. Blackman, a redshirt sophomore, served as the backup to Deondre Francois last season. Francois transferred to Hampton. Blackman is expected to start again as he did in 2017 as a true freshman when he completed 58.2 percent of his passes for 2,230 yards, 19 TDs, and 11 INTs in leading FSU to a 7-6 record and Independence Bowl win over Southern Miss in coach Jimbo Fisher's last season in Tallahassee. In three 2018 games, Blackman completed 64.7 percent of his 51 passes with five scores and one pick.
Defensive player to watch: LB Dontavius Jackson. Jackson, a senior, finished second on the team last season with 75 tackles, seven for losses, a sack, a pick, three breakups, and a forced fumble.
Special teams player to watch: P Logan Tyler. A senior this season, in 2018 Tyler's punts averaged
43.2 yards (31st best in nation), and he put 14 inside the 20-yard line.
Schedule: vs. Boise State in Jacksonville, vs. Louisiana-Monroe, at Virginia, vs. Louisville, vs. N.C. State, at Clemson, at Wake Forest, vs. Syracuse, vs. Miami, at Boston College, vs. Alabama State, at Florida.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5. We should have an idea of what FSU is capable of this year after just a few weeks. Right off the bat, the Seminoles have a Boise State team that won 10 games in 2018, but the game is in Jacksonville, essentially a bonus home game. After what should be a win over Louisiana-Monroe, a date at Virginia is next. If FSU still resembles the team of a year ago, it could be staring at a 1-2 start. After that, with N.C. State, Clemson, Syracuse, Miami, and Florida still on the schedule? Ouch. Could be another bowl-less season. It is very important the 'Noles get off to a 2-1 or 3-0 start, because the natives won't be happy if Taggart misses the postseason again. Kendal Briles, son of Art Briles, is the new offensive coordinator, and will attempt to bring his high-octane offense to Tallahassee. He had great success at Baylor, Houston, and Florida Atlantic. But the offensive line gave up 36 sacks a year ago and needs to be much better. There is an NFL-level RB on the team in Cam Akers, and he broke the school's freshman rushing record in 2017 with 1,025 yards and 5.3 ypc, but last year, he finished with just 706 yards and six TDs on 4.4 ypc behind the sub-standard line. In addition to Jackson, the defense returns safety and leading tackler Hamsah Nasirildeen (91 stops) and cornerback Stanford Samuels, who paced the team with four interceptions. Last season's unit was the ACC's worst against the pass and gave up 32 ppg.
Last year: 9-4 (5-3 ACC), lost to Texas A&M, 52-13, in Gator Bowl Best win: at Marshall, 37-20 Worst loss: bowl
Coach: Dave Doeren: seventh year (43-34, 66-38 career)
Starters returning: 12 (4 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: RB Ricky Person Jr. With QB Ryan Finley in the NFL, N.C. State will have to rely more on its running game, which has produced three different 1,000-yard backs the past three seasons. With tailback Reggie Gallaspy also gone, it's time for Person to step up. He finished with 112 carries for 471 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and a pair of TDs last season in nine games.
Defensive player to watch: DE James Smith-Williams. A senior this season, Smith-Williams
Special teams player to watch: K Chris Dunn. As a true freshman, Dunn drilled 23 of his 26 attempts.
Schedule: vs. East Carolina, vs. Western Carolina, at West Virginia, vs. Ball State, at Florida State, vs. Syracuse, at Boston College, at Wake Forest, vs. Clemson, vs. Louisville, at Georgia Tech, vs. UNC.
Win-loss prediction: 7-5 or 8-4. Unless Florida State makes an unexpectedly big jump, second place in the Atlantic is probably going to come down to Syracuse at N.C. State on Oct. 10. N.C. State has a solid number of returners on defense, but the offense was decimated, with Finley and Gallaspy gone in addition to the top two receivers, Jakobi Meyers and Kelvin Harmon. Also, three players were lost off the offensive line. Right now, the starting quarterback looks to be Matthew McKay, a sophomore who won't be able to pass it like Finley, but has some running ability. McKay completed 7 of 8 passes last year for 87 yards in six games, so the sample size is small. He does have a promising receiver to throw to in Emeka Emezie, who finished third on the team with 53 receptions (11.6 yards per catch) with five TDs. The defense didn't lose as many players as the offense, but it must be better in pass defense, finishing last year at 108th in the country in passing yards allowed per game. In addition to Smith-Williams up front, the back end brings back cornerback Jarius Morehead, who piled up 81 tackles (second on the team) and led the Pack with three picks. The schedule is not overly daunting, especially early on and out of the ACC, but the second half is full of potential potholes for an inexperienced offense.
Clemson
Last year: 15-0 (8-0 ACC), won ACC championship, 42-10, over Pittsburgh; beat Notre Dame, 30-3, in national semifinal; defeated Alabama, 44-16, in national championship
Best win: 'Bama Worst loss: ummm :)
Coach: Dabo Swinney (12th year, 11th full, 116-30)
Starters returning: 12 (7 offense, 4 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: QB Trevor Lawrence. As a true freshman, Lawrence took over the reins of the offense a few weeks into the season and didn't look back, completing 65.2 percent of his passes for 3,280 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just four INTs. Can you imagine what he will do with a year of experience under his belt and a full season of starting, plus the majority of the offense back? He's a Heisman Trophy candidate if not the preseason front runner for the prestigious award.
Defensive player to watch: LB Isaiah Simmons. The Tigers lost their all-world defensive line to the
Special teams player to watch: K B.T. Potter. A sophomore, Potter is expected to replace the graduated Greg Huegel as the team's kicker and has reportedly been solid at camp. He recorded a team-record 79 touchbacks last season on kickoffs.
Schedule: vs. Georgia Tech, vs. Texas A&M, at Syracuse, vs. Charlotte, at North Carolina, vs. Florida State, at Louisville, vs. Boston College, vs. Wofford, at N.C. State, vs. Wake Forest, at South Carolina.
Win-loss prediction: 11-1 or 12-0. In 2018, Clemson's defense was the headline coming into the season, and the offense ended up being awesome, too. This year, the offense is the headline. The defense probably won't be as dominant, but it should be plenty good enough for Clemson to win the ACC again and contend for a spot in the playoffs. In addition to Lawrence, Clemson returns running back Travis Etienne, who tallied 1,658 yards (8.1 yards per carry) and 24 TDs to go along with 12 receptions and a pair of receiving TDs. Lyn-J Dixon is in the backfield, too, and he ran for an absurd 8.8 ypc on just 62 carries and added five scores. Leading receiver Tee Higgins is back after 59 catches, 936 yards, and 12 TDs. Justyn Ross returns after 46 catches, 21.7 ypc, and nine TDs. And Amari Rodgers (55 catches, four TDs in '18), who tore his ACL in March, may only miss a month of the season. The line returns three starters. It is an embarrassment of riches on that side of the ball. The defense has two other key players back in safeties Tanner Muse (76 tackles, 2.5 for losses, two sacks, two picks, and a forced fumble) and Richmond-area product K'Von Wallace (55 tackles, 1.5 for losses, seven breakups, two forced fumbles, one INT). The schedule seems to have two games early in the season -- when the defense could be vulnerable -- where the Tigers could trip up, but they have advantages in each. One is Texas A&M, and the advantage is the game is in Death Valley, and the Aggies almost pulled off the upset last year in Texas, so Swinney is sure to have the guys ready. Likewise for the Syracuse matchup. The Orange have been Clemson's toughest opponent the past two seasons, even more so than Alabama. Syracuse shocked Clemson in the Carrier Dome two years ago, 27-24, then almost won in Death Valley last year, losing 27-23. So that will be a huge game if both don't falter early, but again, Swinney won't have to remind Clemson how tough Syracuse has been.
Florida State
Last year: 5-7 (3-5 ACC) Best win: vs. Wake Forest, 38-17 Worst loss: lots of candidates, but the 'Noles took it on the chin from archrival Florida, 41-14, at home to end the season; the Gators kept FSU from going to a bowl for a 37th consecutive season
Coach: Willie Taggart (second year, 52-57 career)
Starters returning: 17 (7 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB James Blackman. Blackman, a redshirt sophomore, served as the backup to Deondre Francois last season. Francois transferred to Hampton. Blackman is expected to start again as he did in 2017 as a true freshman when he completed 58.2 percent of his passes for 2,230 yards, 19 TDs, and 11 INTs in leading FSU to a 7-6 record and Independence Bowl win over Southern Miss in coach Jimbo Fisher's last season in Tallahassee. In three 2018 games, Blackman completed 64.7 percent of his 51 passes with five scores and one pick.
Defensive player to watch: LB Dontavius Jackson. Jackson, a senior, finished second on the team last season with 75 tackles, seven for losses, a sack, a pick, three breakups, and a forced fumble.
Special teams player to watch: P Logan Tyler. A senior this season, in 2018 Tyler's punts averaged
Schedule: vs. Boise State in Jacksonville, vs. Louisiana-Monroe, at Virginia, vs. Louisville, vs. N.C. State, at Clemson, at Wake Forest, vs. Syracuse, vs. Miami, at Boston College, vs. Alabama State, at Florida.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5. We should have an idea of what FSU is capable of this year after just a few weeks. Right off the bat, the Seminoles have a Boise State team that won 10 games in 2018, but the game is in Jacksonville, essentially a bonus home game. After what should be a win over Louisiana-Monroe, a date at Virginia is next. If FSU still resembles the team of a year ago, it could be staring at a 1-2 start. After that, with N.C. State, Clemson, Syracuse, Miami, and Florida still on the schedule? Ouch. Could be another bowl-less season. It is very important the 'Noles get off to a 2-1 or 3-0 start, because the natives won't be happy if Taggart misses the postseason again. Kendal Briles, son of Art Briles, is the new offensive coordinator, and will attempt to bring his high-octane offense to Tallahassee. He had great success at Baylor, Houston, and Florida Atlantic. But the offensive line gave up 36 sacks a year ago and needs to be much better. There is an NFL-level RB on the team in Cam Akers, and he broke the school's freshman rushing record in 2017 with 1,025 yards and 5.3 ypc, but last year, he finished with just 706 yards and six TDs on 4.4 ypc behind the sub-standard line. In addition to Jackson, the defense returns safety and leading tackler Hamsah Nasirildeen (91 stops) and cornerback Stanford Samuels, who paced the team with four interceptions. Last season's unit was the ACC's worst against the pass and gave up 32 ppg.
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