2023 ACC Preseason Media Poll: Predicted order of finish revealed
The media has spoken when it comes to the Atlantic Coast Conference. After several days in Charlotte this week, the results of the preseason poll for the ACC are out and within them are some storylines that should have people around all 14 programs even more ready for kickoff.
The belles of the ball in the ACC have been Florida State, Clemson, and, to a slightly lesser extent, North Carolina.
That was justified by their placement in the poll with them finishing one, two, and three in this year’s media poll.
1. Clemson Tigers – 2,370 Points (103 First Place Votes)
Clemson hasn’t gone anywhere. The perennial contender out in the ACC has once again landed right at the top when it comes to the outlook of this conference’s season as they took 58.5% of the first-place votes in the poll.
Even so, Dabo Swinney has done some much-needed spring cleaning to put the Tigers back into the national title mix. That work was done specifically on offense with Garrett Riley as OC and Cade Klubnik as QB. Pairing them with the team’s consistently stingy defense should give Clemson as good of a chance as anyone to be back in Charlotte come December.
2. Florida State Seminoles – 2,304 (67)
Florida State took a massive step forward last fall. After going 8-13 in Mike Norvell’s first two seasons, the Seminoles flipped the script in year three and went 10-3. That run featured a win over LSU and six straight wins to end their year.
Now, in 2023, expectations are through the roof in Tallahassee, and within this poll, for FSU to win big in the ACC and nationally. That’s obvious as they earned the second-biggest share of first-place votes at 38.1%. They have the pieces to accomplish what they want, namely players like Jordan Travis and Jared Verse, but, at this point, it’s about living up to these very lofty dreams.
3. North Carolina Tar Heels – 1,981 (5)
How good is North Carolina and what can the Tar Heels be? There’s reason for optimism in Chapel Hill but still several questions to answer as well in order to determine if they can reach the high highs that the two teams above them can.
If they’re going to, though, the buck stops with QB Drake Maye. He broke out as a superstar last season in the ACC and could have UNC right back in the fold again with another incredible statistical season. The question from there is if Mack Brown, specifically his defense, can give Maye a chance to get them there.
4. NC State Wolfpack – 1,662 (1)
After opening last season in the Top-25, NC State never truly got where they wanted to go. They finished at 8-5 and were left to retool again this offseason.
However, they seemingly did so successfully. Much of that conversation focuses on the reconnection of transfer QB Brennan Armstrong and OC Robert Anae. If they can rekindle what they had at Virginia and pair that with another top defense in Raleigh, Dave Doeren could have another recipe for success with the Wolfpack.
5. Miami Hurricanes – 1,153
Few teams in the ACC managed to disappoint more than Miami did last season. A 5-7 finish, with some of those seven not even being competitive, was not what the ‘Canes had in mind for Mario Cristobal’s first season.
With that said, few are under the belief that that kind of lightning will strike twice in Coral Gables, especially considering their staff changes and roster additions. The job is now to ensure that no more doubt is created by finishing somewhere in this ballpark this fall.
T-6. Duke Blue Devils – 1,511
Duke won four of their first five and five of their last six to finish 9-4 in Mike Elko’s first season in Durham. That also managed to earn Elko a nice new extension that could keep him with the Blue Devils for the foreseeable future.
The issue at hand now is to replicate what they did in 2022. Reaching for 10 wins again will be difficult to do with their schedule but, even so, that’s the goal for the Blue Devils as they do their best to justify that last year wasn’t a fluke.
T-6. Pittsburgh Panthers – 1,511
Pittsburgh managed to nearly reach 10 wins last season even after going 4-4. They closed the season with five impressive wins, four of which came against solid ACC play and one over UCLA in the Sun Bowl.
The intra-conference transfer addition of QB Phil Jurkovec makes the Panthers even more interesting. With him along with what else they’ve accomplished the past two seasons, Patt Narduzzi could surprise again with another team that’s pushing toward the realm of double-digits.
8. Louisville Cardinals – 1,344
Louisville has their man in Jeff Brohm. Interest in the Cardinals is high based on his hire and arrival alone.
From there, though, they could make things very interesting in the ACC considering how straightforward their schedule is. With only three road games overall and with them dodging all three of Florida State, Clemson, and UNC, Brohm could bring a very quick success story about for the Cardinals.
9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons – 1,181
Something is going to have to give in Winston-Salem. How much of their consistency with seven or more wins in six of the last seven years will be affected by the loss of QB Sam Hartman?
It’s either going to be a more challenging road for Wake Forest or Dave Clawson is going to manage to succeed again with an eighth consecutive bowl appearance for the program. We’ll have to see for ourselves once the Demon Deacons take the field.
10. Syracuse Orange – 826
You want to talk about highs and lows? That was Syracuse last season as the Orange started at 6-0 and reached the Top-15 of the AP Poll before losing six of their final seven.
Finding more consistency to reach better highs will be important for Syracuse as they enter their eighth season under Dino Babers. That just may be difficult to sort out early as they replace both of their coordinators from a year ago.
11. Virginia Tech Hokies – 678
Virginia Tech went 3-8 last year in Brent Pry’s first season in Blacksburg. They opened with a loss at Old Dominion and then went on to lose their remaining seven in consecutive fashion from the end of September until mid-November.
They’re not expected to be too much better if this is where the media around the ACC sees them in the pecking order. That puts the pressure on Pry, specifically on offense, to find a way to put VT in the conversation as they have been in years past.
12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – 633
Oddly enough, Georgia Tech has enough reasons to at least enter the season as at least optimistically hopeful. That’s all because of the work of Brent Key over the final eight games of the Yellow Jacket’s season last year.
After opening at 1-3 and changing head coaches, Key led them to a respectable enough finish at 4-4. They just must now, during the course of this season, determine if that’s what Key can be for them as their head coach or if that was only a flash in the pan.
13. Boston College Golden Eagles – 561
Going 3-9 after Boston College had routinely won six or seven games over the past few seasons was a step in the wrong direction for Jeff Haley. Being bad on both sides of the ball didn’t help his case either.
Can Haley right the ship? The media doesn’t seem to think so with the Golden Eagles in this spot of the preseason poll. Still, with a favorable enough schedule, Boston College will have their chance to at least try and get back into the range of .500.
14. Virginia Cavaliers – 365
The tragic and abrupt end to Virginia’s last season set their record at 3-7. The Cavaliers lost six of their final seven before the loss of three football players shut down their year for good.
To move back to the gridiron, though, Tony Elliott and UVA have to be better, especially on offense, in 2023. It’ll be difficult to do that with how they’ll start the season but, upon the start of ACC play, there will be a few matchups where they could pick up some wins.
The first season of an ACC that’s without divisions should create a ton of chaos within the league. There’s plenty of room for teams to overachieve, underachieve, or be right where the media expects them to finish. Now, with the season almost here, it’s almost time to see just how accurate this poll ends up when it comes to the Atlantic Coast this fall.