From Berkeley to Syracuse... (2024 ACC Preview thread)

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

From the bloated Big 12 to the even-more bloated ACC, where I'll be previewing 18 teams (including Notre Dame) on this thread. Oh man... Now I REALLY can't wait for "EA Sports College Football 25" to come out, so that I can keep Clemson and Florida State in their seats.

More ramblings from me to come...

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Florida State

The first preview segment for the Atlantic Coast Conference: The Florida State Seminoles

Last season: Look. The way that Michigan was playing in 2023, I'm sure that they were going to win that Rose Bowl regardless of who was their opponent. If it was gonna be Florida State or Alabama, the Wolverines had the talent to beat either one of them.
But there's always gonna be the "What If?. The question of "What if FSU did go to the playoff and had a fully-loaded team to face Michigan?". And THAT'S why Florida State is so frustrated after they won the ACC last year and got almost nothing in return.

Good news: The skill positions on offense looks awesome; Lawrence Toafili and Kam Davis lead a strong RB room. The defensive front looks nasty with 4 All-ACC selections. And FSU might just have the best kicking game in the whole FBS.

Bad news: New offensive coordinator Alex Adkins will sit out the first 3 games of the season due to recruiting violations. That's not good, considering that the passing game still needs a lot of work; folk-hero QB Jordan Travis is gone, and I'm not sold yet on D.J. Uiagalelei coming in to fill the void.

Key games:
8/24 vs. Georgia Tech [from Dublin, Ireland] (Another CFB opener in Dublin. It sounds cute to us, but this will be serious for both GT and FSU. Here, I wanna see what Uiagalelei can bring to the table for FSU.)
9/28 @ SMU (Florida State doesn't have to go to Stanford or Cal this year. That's the good news. The bad news is, they'll have to go to SMU... who might be 4-0 entering this big ACC game.)
10/5 vs. Clemson (When Florida State takes on Clemson, it always draws a crowd. This installment should be no different.)
10/26 @ Miami (Miami might be a train-wreck again this season, but FSU doesn't care. They almost lost to Miami last year, so their guard should be up.)
11/9 @ Notre Dame (If both teams are running well, this could be a "playoff elimination game" here.)
11/30 vs. Florida (FSU could send Billy Napier packing from Gainesville here.)

Bottom line: Oh, god! One playoff snub, and now Florida State is cracking up, making crazy talk about how they wanna go to the Big 12 with Clemson. Seminoles! Get a hold of yourself! The new, expanded 12-team playoff is here! You should be able to win the ACC again with the amount of good transfers you brought in. And when you do that, you can win a national title for us good people in the ACC. Don't lose it and jump ship!
...Man, this "FSU jumping ship" news is really damping the mood of the ACC in 2024. It's even ruined my preview of this team, come to think of it.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Syracuse

Preview segment: The Syracuse Orange

Last season: A 4-0 start straight up evaporated for the Orange, as their passing game went into the shit and they finished 6-7. And that season had a midseason firing (as Dino Babers was given the boot) and a humiliating bowl loss to USF. So even though there WERE some good moments for us, 2023 ended on a sour note for the Orange.
Now Fran Brown (from the Georgia coaching staff) has come in to try to help Syracuse stay upright in the new-look ACC.

Good news: Fran is already doing a good job lifting up the Orange; he has a good-looking staff working underneath him. And look at the QB we have now! Former Ohio State star QB Kyle McCord has come to us, and he'll have some help in some strong new WR's and RB LeQuint Allen. The secondary looks deep, and we FINALLY don't have to play Florida State OR Clemson this year!

Bad news: The pass-rush could be a lot better up front, but the biggest worry is on the O-line. It's been a problem for the 'Cuse over the last few years, and trusting transfers to lift it up always carries a risk.

Key games:
9/7 vs. Georgia Tech (The Yellow Jackets have their shit together now, so this will be a perfect 1st test for the new-look Orange. How will the O-line fare against GT's solid defense?)
10/5 @ UNLV (Maybe the toughest part of Syracuse's 2024 schedule will come when they travel to Vegas to take on a dangerous Rebels team...)
10/12 @ NC State (...before going to Raleigh one week later to challenge the rugged Wolfpack.)
11/2 vs. Virginia Tech (This is the same scenario as the Georgia Tech game; the game's at the JMA Dome, but Virginia Tech now has their shit together.)
11/30 vs. Miami (The last time we defeated Miami was inside the Dome in 1998. With McCord on our side, could this be the year we take them out?)

Bottom line: Look. I know Syracuse won't challenge for anything major in Fran Brown's 1st year. Heck, he needs to show off what kind of chops he has as a coach. But the schedule is the nicest we've had in years, and Kyle McCord headlines an awesome talent haul we got in the transfer portal. With that going for us, I'm expecting the Orange to at least make their 3rd straight bowl game.

 

[shopson67]

Syracuse

Preview segment: The Syracuse Orange

Last season: A 4-0 start straight up evaporated for the Orange, as their passing game went into the shit and they finished 6-7. And that season had a midseason firing (as Dino Babers was given the boot) and a humiliating bowl loss to USF. So even though there WERE some good moments for us, 2023 ended on a sour note for the Orange.
Now Fran Brown (from the Georgia coaching staff) has come in to try to help Syracuse stay upright in the new-look ACC.

Good news: Fran is already doing a good job lifting up the Orange; he has a good-looking staff working underneath him. And look at the QB we have now! Former Ohio State star QB Kyle McCord has come to us, and he'll have some help in some strong new WR's and RB LeQuint Allen. The secondary looks deep, and we FINALLY don't have to play Florida State OR Clemson this year!

Bad news: The pass-rush could be a lot better up front, but the biggest worry is on the O-line. It's been a problem for the 'Cuse over the last few years, and trusting transfers to lift it up always carries a risk.

Key games:
9/7 vs. Georgia Tech (The Yellow Jackets have their shit together now, so this will be a perfect 1st test for the new-look Orange. How will the O-line fare against GT's solid defense?)
10/5 @ UNLV (Maybe the toughest part of Syracuse's 2024 schedule will come when they travel to Vegas to take on a dangerous Rebels team...)
10/12 @ NC State (...before going to Raleigh one week later to challenge the rugged Wolfpack.)
11/2 vs. Virginia Tech (This is the same scenario as the Georgia Tech game; the game's at the JMA Dome, but Virginia Tech now has their shit together.)
11/30 vs. Miami (The last time we defeated Miami was inside the Dome in 1998. With McCord on our side, could this be the year we take them out?)

Bottom line: Look. I know Syracuse won't challenge for anything major in Fran Brown's 1st year. Heck, he needs to show off what kind of chops he has as a coach. But the schedule is the nicest we've had in years, and Kyle McCord headlines an awesome talent haul we got in the transfer portal. With that going for us, I'm expecting the Orange to at least make their 3rd straight bowl game.

Having a healthy QB with passing talent should be a huge boon for the Orange. Shrader could never stay healthy and was always run first.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Pittsburgh

Preview segment: The Pittsburgh Panthers

Last season: Whoa! Last year's 3-9 record was truly a shock to the system for Pittsburgh. Under Pat Narduzzi's leadership, they've been doing pretty well up to now. But the defense cracked at the worst times, and the offensive numbers went south.

Good news: Pat is hopeful that a new offensive coordinator (Kade Bell) and 7 returning starters will get the offense going again. QB Nate Yarnell returns to the team (and held off challengers to his starting job in the spring), and RB Desmond Reid is one of the great transfers Pitt got from Western Carolina (Kade's former school).

Bad news: Pitt's defense has the chance to implode this year; it only returns 2 starters from 2023, and it got decimated in spring ball thanks to the portal.

Key games:
9/7 @ Cincinnati (They may not be constant rivals anymore, but losing to Cincinnati last year had to sting for Pitt.
9/14 vs. West Virginia (However, I don't think Pitt is too worried with Cincinnati. No, they're way too concerned with the Mountaineers [who beat them last year]. Now West Virginia has expectations again, and Pitt needs to stop that.)
10/12 vs. California (Here's a game that could be good... and could be low-scoring.)
10/24 vs. Syracuse (Nate Yarnell vs. Kyle McCord. Hmmm...)
11/23 @ Louisville (Pitt was able to upset the Cardinals last year.)

Bottom line: 2023 was the worst year for Pittsburgh football over the last quarter-century. Now Narduzzi is under pressure to wash away the stink of that campaign and get Pittsburgh back to ACC contention. But if the defense doesn't overcome a wretched spring, that dream sadly won't happen.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Boston College

Preview segment: The Boston College Eagles

Last season: There were some signs of life for the Eagles in 2023! Thanks to a reborn running game, Boston College would go 7-6 and upset SMU in the Fenway Bowl. But then a stunner took place! Head coach Jeff Hafley left to become the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, and BC was forced to scramble for his replacement.

2024 X-factor: New head coach Bill O'Brien (...Wait a minute. BC was able to land O'Brien? The same guy who guided the Penn State program through the rough 2012 and 2013 seasons? The same guy who helped coach up Tom Brady in New England? The same guy who kept the Houston Texans relevant in the NFL for several seasons? This could be a home-run hire for the Eagles.)

Good news: Bill has some good pieces to work with in Year 1 at Chestnut Hill. The rushing game should be powerful again with a proud O-line working for it. Plus, QB Thomas Castellanos showed some great skills last year; if he cuts back on his INT's, he should be even better.

Bad news: 7 starters return on defense, but that unit struggled quite a few times last year. Oh, and it absolutely NEEDS to do better at generating sacks.

Key games:
9/2 @ Florida State (Quite the intriguing opener for BC in 2024. Sure, going to Tallahassee is scary, but the Eagles almost stunned Florida State last year.)
9/21 vs. Michigan State (We'll have a fine coaching matchup here: Bill O'Brien vs. Johathan Smith.)
10/25 vs. Louisville (Here's a chance for BC to pull an upset over a upper-tier ACC school.)
11/16 @ SMU (Oh dear. It's a rematch of last year's Fenway Bowl... with SMU now in the same league as the Eagles.)
11/23 vs. North Carolina (Same scenario as the Louisville game.)

Bottom line: This new coaching hire for BC should work out well; O'Brien knows what he's doing. Plus, expectations for Boston College football aren't usually high. The Eagles may dance around the .500 mark in 2024, but watch out for them over the next couple years.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Miami

Preview segment: The Miami Hurricanes

Last season: I'll bet Mario Cristobel is getting sick and tired of everyone mentioning that Georgia Tech collapse online. But if Miami have had a better season on the field, people wouldn't be mentioning it. At least, AS much as they do now.
And THAT is the big problem. Mario coaching the team has REALLY not gone as smooth as everyone at Miami have wanted it. So guess how much pressure Mario is under in Year 3 of his tenure?

Good news: On paper (at least), Miami has the talent to turn it around. The defense got a lot of transfers to help them out, and line play on both sides of the ball looks good. QB Cam Ward comes in from Washington State, and everyone is praising Miami picking up RB Damien Martinez.

Bad news: It wouldn't hurt Miami to use the tight-end more in their offense, and the secondary is a bit young. More importantly, Miami has GOT to limit the mental mistakes that sabotaged the last 2 seasons for them.

Key games:
8/31 @ Florida (The "Battle For the War Canoe" will start up the season for Miami... They DO know how much pressure Billy Napier is at Florida, right? They SHOULD take advantage of this... RIGHT?!)
9/21 @ USF (Not to throw more pressure on Cristobel, but I think Miami fired their head coach the last time they lost to USF.)
9/28 vs. Virginia Tech (Miami didn't face the rival Hokies last year. But it doesn't matter. Because Va-Tech is upbeat and Miami isn't, and they need to fix that.)
10/19 @ Louisville (Despite all their problems, Miami almost upset Louisville last year.)
10/26 vs. Florida State (Miami has lost 3 in a row to FSU. WAKE UP!)
11/9 @ Georgia Tech (OOOOOO! It's the rematch with those g-ddamn Yellow Jackets!)

Bottom line: Miami is the wild-card of the ACC in 2024. On paper, they got the goods to compete. But everyone will be staring at Cristobel and his staff to put it all together and stop throwing games that they should win. Like the one against Rutgers and Georgi-
Okay, you get the point. Mario is under big pressure at his alma-mater, so let's see how he gets out of it.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Georgia Tech

Preview segment: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Last season: Going back to that GT/Miami game from last year, let's give the Yellow Jackets a ton of credit for taking advantage of the situation. The Roman philosopher Seneca said "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity", and because Georgia Tech was a better team under the guidance of Brent Key, they were able to win that game. And then they took it to a winning record and a Gasparilla Bowl win.
But now it's 2024, and fans in Atlanta are wondering what's next for the Jackets.

Good news: The offense was pretty good last year, and most of it returns for 2024 (including QB Haynes King). The O-line looks good, and GT upgraded their WR group through the portal. The kicking game looks good as well.

Bad news: GT has a new defensive coordinator, and let's hope he can fix a defense that gave up a LOT of explosive plays in 2023. The secondary has some holes to fill in, too. Oh, and Haynes King really needs to take better care of the football.

Key games:
8/24 vs. Florida State [from Dublin] (See my Florida State preview.)
10/12 @ North Carolina (Georgia Tech was able to upset UNC last year, and they can easily do that again.)
10/19 vs. Notre Dame [from Atlanta] (This game definitely looks scary, but this is technically a home game for the Jackets. If they crack the Irish's stout defense...)
11/9 vs. Miami (While Miami will be snorting fire in this game, Georgia Tech should keep their cool and try to silence the Hurricanes offense again.)
11/30 @ Georgia (Bad news: Going to Athens against a fully-loaded rival is never fun. Good news: At least Georgia Tech is getting closer to the Bulldogs in terms of talent.)

Bottom line: Yet another tough schedule looms for Georgia Tech, so I don't think they'll compete for the ACC title. But they have upgraded their talent at every position, so DO NOT sleep on these guys. GT should find another bowl invite in 2024, and teams like NC State and Florida State need to be careful when they play them.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Duke

Preview segment: The Duke Blue Devils

Last season: Despite running into some problems in ACC play, Duke still had a good 2023 by their standards. They would go 8-5 with landmark wins over a Top-10 team like Clemson, Northwestern, and Troy. But how will the program deal with some big changes... not just in the ACC, but internally.

Bad news: Mike Elko has left to be the head coach at Texas A&M. That means Duke now has their 3rd new coaching staff in 4 years, which MIGHT not be good for term continuity. There is inexperience all over the place, most noticeably at the offensive and defensive lines.

Good news: There are still some dynamic players for Duke to use, like WR Jordan Moore and RB Jaquez Moore. The secondary looks to be the best place on the defense, and Duke still has a lot of speed thanks to their recent recruiting classes.

2024 X-factor: Quarterback (Why is the QB spot a "wild-card" for Duke this year? Because even though they have a starting QB in Grayson Loftis, Maalik Murphy has recently come in from Texas and is expecting to run the offense at some point this season. Will this QB battle rip apart the team? We'll just have to see.)

Key games:
9/7 @ Northwestern (Man. These two "Brainiac schools" meet each other a lot, don't they? Duke has won the last 5 meetings.)
9/28 vs. North Carolina (Aw man. Duke was SO CLOSE to beating their arch-rivals last year, but lost a 47-45 heartbreaker. The fur should fly again here.)
10/18 vs. Florida State (Don't be scared of Florida State, Duke! You did beat Clemson in Durham last year, and you can catch FSU looking ahead to their game against Miami.)
10/26 vs. SMU (These two teams haven't played each other since 1956.)
11/23 vs. Virginia Tech (Can the Blue Devils upset the Hokies on Senior Day?)

Bottom line: Duke has been doing great over the last 2 years, but Mike Elko is gone. And Duke may be confident, but only 9 starters from last year's team is back. And unless the newcomers step up quick, the Blue Devils may sadly be near the bottom of the ACC in 2024.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Wake Forest

Preview segment: The Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Last season: Too bad. Wake Forest had been doing tremendous over the last several years, but they crashed in 2023 with a 4-8 record. This was all thanks to an offense that was way below average, and now Dave Clawson is looking to turn things around in Winston-Salem.

Good news: Wake has an experienced defensive backfield, and QB Hank Bachmeier comes in from Boise State to lift up the passing game. Line play should be better for Wake after a down 2023.

Bad news: Let's hope that Hank can help sort out the Deacon offense; both the wide-receiver and running-back spots have big question marks. Forcing more turnovers is also a must for Wake.

Key games:
9/7 vs. Virginia (This game doesn't sound exciting, but it will be VERY important for both Wake and Virginia; they need a good start to ACC play.)
10/12 vs. Clemson (Look on the bright side, Deacons! Clemson isn't a world-beater program, plus you get to host them this year.)
10/26 @ Stanford (A plus for Wake in 2024 is the fact that they only have to leave the state of North Carolina 3 times all season. This is one of those trips outside the state, but at least this game will be winnable.)
11/8 vs. California (Also, Wake gets to host the other west-coast interloper in the ACC this season.)
11/30 vs. Duke (This Senior Day game might decide a bowl berth for Wake.)

Bottom line: I honestly don't know where Wake Forest sits now in the ACC. I mean, the coach is one of the best when it comes to getting more from less. But Wake is missing a lot of excitement, and they may be stuck near the bottom of the ACC in 2024... unless their offense wakes up.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

North Carolina State

Preview segment: The NC State Wolfpack

Last season: They may have lost that Pop-Tarts Bowl, but NC State still left 2023 with a lot of positive vibes. I mean, they were picked to finish near the middle of the pack in 2023, but were able to grab 9 regular season wins. It was a masterclass in toughness and grit!
And now people are expecting NC State to contend for the ACC in 2024. Uh oh...

Good news: The Wolfpack snagged 2 major stars in the transfer portal to lift up their offense: QB Grayson McCall (from Coastal Carolina) and RB Jordan Waters. If those guys get along quickly, NC State's numbers could take a big jump. There are no big worries on defense; the secondary in particular could be nasty.

Bad news: That said, the defense could have a tough time replacing Payton Wilson on the D-line. Oh, and the O-line is a question mark, as NC State couldn't figure out the configuration during spring ball.

Key games:
9/7 vs. Tennessee [from Charlotte] (There are two big games for NC State during the month of September. This is the first one, as the Wolfpack challenges the high-flying Volunteers. Will NC State slow them down long enough to win?)
9/21 @ Clemson (And here's the other big one, as NC State has to visit a pissed-off Clemson team that they beat last year.)
10/5 vs. Wake Forest (NC State can't forget about their rivals from Tobacco Road, as the Wolfpack will host the rival Deacons.)
11/9 vs. Duke (A chance for NC State to get revenge on Duke for beating them 24-3 last year.)
11/30 @ North Carolina (Just another installment in this bitter in-state rivalry, but will it also determine a spot in the ACC title game?)

Bottom line: There's a lot to like about this Wolfpack team. The defense is expected to be strong again, and Grayson McCall should help the offense get more points. The bad news is, NC State tends to wither when they have conference title asperations. But the good news is, they don't have to face Florida State or Miami in 2024. And they KNOW that they need to beat the stronger programs if they want the gold this year.
So let's see how NC State handle the grind THIS time. At the very least, another 8-to-9 win season is expected.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

North Carolina

Preview segment: The North Carolina Tar Heels

Last season: I mean, it started out well. North Carolina was trucking along at 8-2 with a Top-10 offense led by the great Drake Maye at QB. But then UNC's defensive problems caught up to them, and they finished on a 3-game losing streak. Now everyone is expecting the Tar Heels to take a step back in 2024... but WILL they?

Bad news: Well, if the defense doesn't make improvements under it's new coordinator (Geoff Collins), then UNC will definitely struggle again. The O-line is mostly new, and... oh yeah! There's no more Drake Maye at QB.

Good news: At least UNC found QB Max Johnson in the portal, and either he or Conner Harrell should be able to move the ball. And besides, Mack Brown liked to run the ball even WITH Drake Maye; that commitment should pay off in 2024 as RB Omarion Hampton is back for his junior year. The back of the defense should do better than it did last year.

Key games:
8/31 @ Minnesota (Starting your season visiting a "Power 4" school is never fun. Let's see which QB will step up for the Tar Heels here.)
9/28 @ Duke (UNC will be taking care of some in-state business in the month of September; they'll take on Charlotte and James Madison before their latest battle with the Blue Devils.)
10/12 vs. Georgia Tech (Georgia Tech was one of the ACC teams that took advantage of UNC's porous defense last year, beating them 46-42.)
11/2 @ Florida State (Hmm... Let's see if UNC can pull the upset against FSU; by this time we'll know how much better the Tar Heel defense is.)
11/30 vs. NC State (UNC has gone on late-season slides over the last 2 years... and their in-state rivals in Raleigh are reaping the rewards.)

Bottom line: Maybe the slide-down for UNC won't be so bad. After all, they retain their top running back and has hope for a better defense. But they'll be missing Drake Maye on the offense, so unless the new guys step up North Carolina will be in the middle of the ACC standings this year.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Virginia

Preview segment: The Virginia Cavaliers

Last season: Another rough year for the Cavaliers as they went 3-9.

Good news: Virginia has a lot of returning starters coming back, including a proud front 7 on defense. Tony Muskett and Anthony Colandrea are fighting for the starting QB job, but Virginia can win with either of them at the helm. And the WR room is the deepest the Cavs have had in years.

Bad news: Sadly, Malik Washington will not be one of those receivers (he graduated). The O-line returns mostly intact, but it has GOT to be better in offering protection. And depth in the secondary is quite thin.

Key games:
9/7 @ Wake Forest (Like I said earlier, this is an important ACC opener for both Virginia and Wake.)
9/14 vs. Maryland (Virginia got whacked last year by their old rivals. But this time the game's in Charlottesville, and Maryland won't have Taulia anymore.)
10/12 vs. Louisville (The Cavs almost upset Louisville last year.)
10/26 vs. North Carolina (The Cavs actually DID upset North Carolina last year.)
11/30 @ Virginia Tech (Hopefully UVA will do better against their in-state rivals this year than the 55-17 smashing they got in 2023.)

Bottom line: Things WERE starting to get better for the Cavs last year, and their improvement can continue with the amount of starters they have coming back. But unless they make hay in the 1st half of the year, Virginia will be stuck fighting for a bowl berth in 2024.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

California

Preview segment: The California Golden Bears

Last season: Well, at least Cal was able to make their first bowl in 4 years last season. But a midseason slump prevented Cal from shooting for anything big. Now thanks to circumstances, they have to park their truck in the ACC for the foreseeable future. Pool middling California program!

Good news: 16 starters from last year's team are back. That's a good place to start right there! Starters include an ace kicker (Ryan Coe), a dark-horse All-American candidate at running back (Jaydn Ott), and a quarterback that showed flashes of greatness last year as a freshmen (Fernando Mendoza).

Bad news: Huh. Justin Wilcox always produced good defenses at Cal, but 2023's unit was WAY below average. Let's see what kind of improvements he can make to it this year. The O-line needs to do better in preventing sacks.

Key games:
9/7 @ Auburn (I won't complain TOO much about travel costs for Cal during this segment. I mean, Cal will get experience traveling to the South in this game. Plus, this game is winnable [Auburn is still figuring things out].)
9/21 @ Florida State (So Cal's first game as an ACC member is at Florida State. Ouch. I mean, FSU is still very loaded.)
10/5 vs. Miami (But on the other hand, some southern ACC teams will have to go to Berkeley. Miami is one of them, and I think Cal has a chance to beat them.)
11/23 vs. Stanford (At least this Bay Area rivalry will stay intact. Cal has now beaten Stanford 3 years in a row.)
11/30 @ SMU (But why isn't the "Stanford Ax" rivalry the last game on the schedule? Why does Cal have to go to Dallas for their finale? I'm so confused.)

Bottom line: Okay, enough complaining from me; Cal is trying to move on from the collapse of the PAC-12. And maybe they can make hay in their first year in the ACC; they have a superstar RB, a potential superstar QB, and a lot of other people coming back. Maybe they can surprise a big-boy in the ACC if they fix their defense.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Clemson

So what the hell do I do with the news that Joe Biden is out of the presidential race, essentially making him a lame-duck leader? What do I do now? What do WE do-
*huff puff* ...Sorry, that kind of talk should be reserved for the politics forums. Now then...

Preview segment: The Clemson Tigers

Last season: Okay, so they ran off 5 straight wins to end the season. But 2023 still left us with more questions than answers in regards to Clemson. I mean, they went 4-4 in their own league! They let rivals like Duke and NC State beat them. They watched a transfer-rich Florida State team win the ACC and kick up a ruckus. And yet Dabo Sweeney STILL won't use the portal to plug in the holes they have?
Well, this is a curious case developing at Clemson!

Good news: 7 starters return on offense, including emerging star RB Phil Mafah. An improved passing game is likely, and the defensive front still looks awesome despite losing some people.

Bad news: QB Cade Klubnik really needs to take better care of the football. And he'll HAVE to, as the O-line is still a question mark. The secondary has talent, but is surprisingly thin in terms of depth.

Key games:
8/31 vs. Georgia [in Atlanta] (I'm just starting my first Dynasty in "CFB 25", and on it Clemson has defeated Georgia. And whattaya know? Clemson is back in the national title discussion! Clemson will get the chance to do that in real life, but I think it'll be much harder than they think.)
9/21 vs. NC State (Clemson gets the Wolfpack in their ACC opener. So the Tigers should be able to get revenge for last year's loss... RIGHT?!)
10/5 @ Florida State (Oh god! It's the rematch with the fired-up Seminoles... in Tallahassee! ...But then again, Clemson only lost to FSU last year because of some miscues. Maybe they'll beat them this time if they keep their cool.)
11/9 @ Virginia Tech (A tricky ACC game in Blacksburg. Hopefully Clemson can avoid the turnover bug here.)
11/30 vs. South Carolina (At least Clemson was able to smack around South Carolina again last year.)

Bottom line: This is very interesting. Clemson saw Florida State win the ACC, yet they still won't go hard in the transfer portal. And that's why I think 2024 will be a HUGE year for this Tigers program and Dabo Sweeney. Will Clemson return to the ACC title game? And if they don't, will Dabo wave the white flag and go to the portal? Or will he go down with the ship? By December, we should know the answer.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Southern Methodist

Preview segment: The SMU Mustangs

Last season: Swag! Southern Methodist is riding into the ACC with a lot of swag around the program, as they are off an 11-3 record with an AAC conference title. That's the first conference crown of any kind for SMU since 1984! So what can SMU do with all of their swag in their new home?

Good news: The offense has the chance to be straight-up lethal; Preston Stone is still their QB. The WR position is still LOADED. And the O-line SMU has now is deep, athletic, and powerful.

Bad news: That said, the O-line DOES have some depth issues, so we'll see if it can stay healthy. Finding some new starters at the cornerback spot is also a priority.

Key games:
9/6 vs. BYU (The Mustangs have to deal with two Big 12 programs early on in 2024. One of them will be the hopeful BYU Cougars.)
9/21 vs. TCU (And the other one is their old rivals from Fort Worth.)
9/28 vs. Florida State (Imagine the spectacle we'll see if SMU comes into their ACC opener at 4-0... when they host the defending ACC champs.)
10/5 @ Louisville (Ooof. Then again, SMU could get a rough intro to ACC life if they allow the Cardinals to run wild.)
11/16 vs. Boston College (This is a rematch of last year's Fenway Bowl, where BC defeated the Mustangs in Dallas. So how iconic is it that BC will have to go to Dallas this time?)

Bottom line: With a lot of returning talent right now in Dallas, it's safe to say that SMU is ready to do damage in their new conference. HOW much damage they'll do will depend on how fast SMU adjusts to the play-style of ACC teams... and if their O-line can keep it together.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

While FSU and Clemson try to bolt ACC, commish Jim Phillips offers stern rebuke and says league is 'inside that top three'

The ACC's internal strife lingers over the league and the drama was prevalent during its media days, where its commissioner blasted the disgruntled schools' actions as "“disruptive and harmful.”

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Stanford

Preview segment: The Stanford Cardinal

Last season: Considering that Stanford is going through a total rebuild right now, their 3-9 record last year should shock nobody. But now they no longer have the familiar confines of the PAC-12 to help them, and now their rebuild is going through the ACC? Good luck, men.

Good news: Last year, Stanford had almost no experienced players. Now they return 16 starters, including QB Ashton Daniels and WR Elic Ayomanor (who had a brilliant freshmen campaign). The O-line is also full of veterans.

Bad news: Although the defense is experienced as well, it SUCKED last year. No, I mean REALLY sucked. So obviously, that unit has to make MAJOR improvements. Oh, and the offense needs to find a new top runner.

Key games:
9/7 vs. Cal Poly (Among those 9 losses in 2023 was a loss to an FCS school in Sacramento State [Troy Taylor's former school].)
9/20 @ Syracuse (So this is where Stanford will start life in the ACC: Against my team at the JWA Dome.)
10/12 @ Notre Dame (The Irish never dreamed that Stanford would be one of their 5 ACC opponents for 2024, but here we are.)
10/26 vs. Wake Forest (Okay, in all seriousness I think this ACC game is winnable for Stanford.)
11/23 @ California (Cal is now the mental hurdle Stanford has to clear to kick their rebuilding project into high gear.)

Bottom line: From the tone of this preview, you've probably guessed that I don't like Stanford's chances in their first year in the ACC. Well... yeah, their schedule is pretty hard. But they do have some good pieces, so IF (and that's a big if) the defense makes some big strides Stanford could surprise somebody in 2024 as the rebuild continues.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Virginia Tech

Preview segment: The Virginia Tech Hokies

Last season: Okay, so they finished 7-6. And sure, they lost to people like Rutgers and Marshall. But 2023 was still a step in the right direction for Virginia Tech, as a lot of new stars emerged and their numbers went up across the board. Now on to 2024, where the Hokies are hoping to compete for the ACC title.

Good news: When Kyron Drones stepped in as the Hokies' new starting QB, everything changed for the better. Now he's back, and so is most of his co-stars on the offense (like WR Ali Jennings and RB Bhayshul Tuten). The defense has a powerful line and a strong pass-rush.

Bad news: It wouldn't hurt Va-Tech to find a 2nd safety to compliment Jalen Stroman in the secondary. And it also wouldn't hurt the O-line to step up it's game a bit.

Key games:
9/21 vs. Rutgers (Va-Tech should be in great shape to get revenge against a Rutgers program that beat them last year.)
9/27 @ Miami (The rival Hurricanes may be in turmoil, but they still have talent and get to host this game. Remember that, Hokies, and don't take them lightly.)
10/5 @ Stanford (These two will face each other for the first time since the 2010 Orange Bowl.)
11/9 vs. Clemson (The Hokies may be confident, but they KNOW that they'll have to be some of the big boys to be a real ACC contender. That's why this game against the Tigers will be so big.)
11/30 vs. Virginia (Jeez... So far, Virginia Tech has only lost to Virginia twice this century.)

Bottom line: In terms of weak points, Virginia Tech may have the fewest of any ACC team in 2024. So they WILL be a handful in Brent Pry's 3rd year on the job, but can they complete a marvelous revival and make the ACC title game? Only if they fall monsters like Miami and Clemson.

 

[foster4prez]

Virginia Tech

Preview segment: The Virginia Tech Hokies

Last season: Okay, so they finished 7-6. And sure, they lost to people like Rutgers and Marshall. But 2023 was still a step in the right direction for Virginia Tech, as a lot of new stars emerged and their numbers went up across the board. Now on to 2024, where the Hokies are hoping to compete for the ACC title.

Good news: When Kyron Drones stepped in as the Hokies' new starting QB, everything changed for the better. Now he's back, and so is most of his co-stars on the offense (like WR Ali Jennings and RB Bhayshul Tuten). The defense has a powerful line and a strong pass-rush.

Bad news: It wouldn't hurt Va-Tech to find a 2nd safety to compliment Jalen Stroman in the secondary. And it also wouldn't hurt the O-line to step up it's game a bit.

Key games:
9/21 vs. Rutgers (Va-Tech should be in great shape to get revenge against a Rutgers program that beat them last year.)
9/27 @ Miami (The rival Hurricanes may be in turmoil, but they still have talent and get to host this game. Remember that, Hokies, and don't take them lightly.)
10/5 @ Stanford (These two will face each other for the first time since the 2010 Orange Bowl.)
11/9 vs. Clemson (The Hokies may be confident, but they KNOW that they'll have to be some of the big boys to be a real ACC contender. That's why this game against the Tigers will be so big.)
11/30 vs. Virginia (Jeez... So far, Virginia Tech has only lost to Virginia twice this century.)

Bottom line: In terms of weak points, Virginia Tech may have the fewest of any ACC team in 2024. So they WILL be a handful in Brent Pry's 3rd year on the job, but can they complete a marvelous revival and make the ACC title game? Only if they fall monsters like Miami and Clemson.

Expectation is 9-3. Don't have the depth yet for a full season run.