Athlon Sports projects ACC's order of finish in 2023

For the first time in a long time there is some real debate heading into the season about who will win the ACC.

Clemson has owned the league for the better part of a decade, winning seven of the past eight ACC titles. But it’s Florida State who many expect to come out on top in 2023.

Athlon Sports is the latest national outlet to offer its prediction for who will win the ACC this upcoming season, and the magazine is buying into the hype with the Seminoles. Athlon predicts that Florida State will beat Clemson in the ACC Championship game.

This is the first year that the two former ACC Atlantic rivals are eligible to meet in the ACC title game as the ACC is doing away with divisions.

Here is Athlon Sports’ full projection of what the ACC order of finish will be in 2023:

1. Florida State (11-2, 7-1)
2. Clemson (10-3, 6-2)
3. North Carolina (8-4, 5-3)
4. Miami (8-4, 5-3)
5. Duke (8-4, 5-3)
6. Pittsburgh (8-4, 5-3)
7. Louisville (7-5, 5-3)
8. NC State (7-5, 4-4)
9. Wake Forest (7-5, 4-4)
10. Syracuse (7-5, 3-5)
11. Georgia Tech (5-7, 3-5)
12. Virginia Tech (5-7, 2-6)
13. Boston College (5-7, 1-7)
14. Virginia (3-9, 1-7)

Click HERE to purchase the entire Athlon magazine for the 2023 college football season

It’s no surprise that Florida State is Athlon’s pick to win the ACC this season as the Seminoles have a loaded roster. Jordan Travis is back at quarterback, Johnny Wilson is back at receiver, and FSU brought in a talented class from the transfer portal that includes former Michigan State star Keon Coleman.

Clemson very well could have something to say about that, though. Cade Klubnik is entering his first season as the Tigers starting quarterback, and there’s plenty of excitement around the program about the Texas native. Clemson should also be loaded on defense, led by two of the best linebackers in the country in Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Elsewhere in the ACC, it’s no surprise that North Carolina is picked to finish third in the league. The Tar Heels return star quarterback Drake Maye, who is expected to be a top 5 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Athlon Sports also projects Miami to finish fourth. The Hurricanes revamped their roster this offseason, and expectations are much higher for Mario Cristobal entering Year 2 after a disappointing first season at Miami. Duke is projected to finish fifth in the league, and the Blue Devils will get a good early test when they host Clemson in Week 1.