ACC Football Power Rankings: 2023 Preseason

Projecting how the Atlantic Coast Conference will shake out ahead of the 2023 college football season.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The long offseason is nearly in the rear view mirror. College football is roughly a month from making its triumphant return, and with that will come what is shaping up to be an exciting season of ACC football.

For the first time since 2004, the league will be using a division-less format to determine who heads to the ACC Championship Game. The Atlantic and Coastal divisions are now gone, and the two teams with the best conference winning percentage will be heading to Charlotte in early December.

Clemson is the reigning ACC champion and has won seven of the last eight conference titles, but there is some competition at the top. Florida State and North Carolina could easily challenge the reigning champs, not to mention other teams could also go on a run in an effort to be the "next TCU."

So where do things currently stand in the conference with the 2023 season fast approaching? Check out our preseason ACC power rankings below:

1. Florida State Seminoles

Last Season's Record: 10-3 (5-3 ACC)

Ladies and gentlemen, Florida State is officially back. For the first time since their final full season under Jimbo Fisher (2014), the Seminoles cracked double digit wins in 2022, and Mike Norvell's squad has both ACC and CFP aspirations in 2023. FSU brings back most of their regular starters from a team whose offense and defense ranked in the top-15 last season, including quarterback Jordan Travis, running back Trey Benson, wide receiver Johnny Wilson and defensive end Jared Verse. Add in the fact that the 'Noles bring in the No. 9 transfer portal class in the nation per On3, which brought in guys like projected starters CB Fentrell Cypress II and tight end Jaheim Bell, and FSU is an easy preseason pick to win the league.

2. Clemson Tigers

Last Season's Record: 11-3 (8-0 ACC)

FSU might be the near-consensus preseason favorite to win the ACC, but do not sleep on Clemson's chances to repeat. Cade Klubnik is taking over as the full-time quarterback after D.J. Uiagalelei's departure for Oregon State, and while there are questions at receiver, they have the best RB tandem in the ACC in Will Shipley and Phil Mafah. Not to mention that their offense gets a massive shot in the arm with offensive coordinator and 2022 Broyles Award winner Garrett Riley joining Dabo Sweeney's staff. Their defense lost a lot of production on the line to the NFL Draft, but there's still plenty of elite talent on that side of the ball, such as linebacker duo Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels

Last Season's Record: 9-5 (6-2 ACC)

North Carolina might have dropped four in a row to end the 2022 season, but this is still one of the best teams in the ACC. This is mainly because of Drake Maye, who is the top challenger to USC's Caleb Williams for the title of best quarterback in all of college football. His two top weapons might now be in the NFL, but portal additions Nate McCollum and Devontez Walker, plus returner Bryson Nesbit, will help UNC maintain a deadly passing attack. The main thing holding the Tar Heels back is their god awful defense, which finished dead last in the ACC at 436.5 yards and 30.8 points allowed per game. If the Heels continue to lag behind here, which has been improved some via the portal, DC Gene Chizik might not last the season.

4. NC State Wolfpack

Last Season's Record: 8-5 (4-4 ACC)

Inconsistency and injuries derailed NC State's chances at making the ACC Championship last season, but Dave Doeren and Co. still have a chance to do so in 2023. Like always, the Wolfpack are going to be led by a stellar defense. Payton Wilson is one of the best linebackers in the league, and Aydan White, Shyheim Battle and Jakeen Harris anchor a stout secondary. Offensively, Devin Leary is now at Kentucky, but transfer quarterback Brennan Armstrong reunites with his old OC in Robert Anae, who helped him put together a monstrous 2021 while at Virginia. The only issue is that NC State lost their top two wideouts and don't really have an established option here, plus their two best offensive linemen are now in the NFL

5. Louisville Cardinals

Last Season's Record: 8-5 (4-4 ACC)

Out with Scott Satterfield, in with Jeff Brohm. The Louisville native has hit the ground running since returning to his alma mater, bringing in the No. 1 portal class in college football. Malik Cunningham is gone, but transfers Jack Plummer and Jamari Thrash could be one of the more prolific QB/WR duos come fall, and Brohm vastly improved the offensive line and wide receiver room through the portal. The Cardinals do lose several key pieces to one of the most disruptive defenses in college football, but returners like defensive end Ashton Gillotte and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee should help produce a good defense when infused with the help from the portal.

6. Miami Hurricanes

Last Season's Record: 5-7 (3-5 ACC)

Year one of the Mario Cristobal era at Miami was an unmitigated failure, that much is certain. But with Cristobal replacing both coordinators, and UM bringing in the No. 10 transfer portal class and No. 7 high school class, can the Canes live up to their talent? Former ACC Rookie of the Year QB Tyler Van Dyke is back for another year, and while Miami doesn't have a super noteworthy wide receiver room, the portal fixed their much maligned offensive line. Defensively, should take a step forward. Elite safety duo Kamren Kitchens and James Williams is back, plus linebacker Francisco Mauigoa and defensive lineman Thomas Gore are quality portal additions.

7. Duke Blue Devils

Last Season's Record: 9-4 (5-3 ACC)

Head coach Mike Elko is a wizard for what he accomplished last season, taking one of the worst teams in all of college football and coming just 19 points away from going 13-0. Duke retains essentially their entire offense from last season, which was fifth in the league and top-50 nationally, including arguably the most underrated quarterback at the Division I level in Riley Leonard. Their defense lagged behind the offense a bit, but it does feature a handful of returning and incoming playmakers, such as preseason All-American defensive tackle DeWayne Carter.

8. Pitt Panthers

Last Season's Record: 9-4 (5-3 ACC)

Few teams in college football lost as much talent from last season as Pitt did. Pat Narduzzi brought in Phil Jurkovec to be the his starting quarterback, and the Panthers do have a good offensive line, but they also lost star running back Israel Abanikanda and No. 1 wide receiver Jared Wayne to the NFL. Rodney Hammond and Konata Mumpfield, respectively, have big shoes to fill at these positions. On defense, Pitt also lost ACC Defensive Player of the Year Calijah Kancey, plus defensive standouts SirVocea Dennis and Erick Hallett to the NFL. This could be Narduzzi's biggest coaching job to date.

9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Last Season's Record: 8-5 (3-5 ACC)

Wake Forest had aspirations of perhaps making the ACC Championship last season, but it might be difficult to reach that in 2023. Sam Hartman opted to take his talents to South Bend, but backup QB Mitch Griffis has shown promise in the spring. Wide receiver A.T. Perry is gone, but No. 2 and 3 options Donavon Green and Jahmal Banks are back, as is starting running back Justice Ellison. However, the Demon Deacons had the second-worst defense in the ACC last season, and one of the worst secondaries in college football. Impact defenders like Jasheen Davis and Malik Mustapha are back, but the Deacs didn't really upgrade much on defense at all during the offseason.

10. Syracuse Orange

Last Season's Record: 7-6 (4-4 ACC)

Syracuse started their 2022 campaign with six straight wins, only to loss six of their final seven games, and things don't look much better in 2023. QB Garrett Shrader took a big step forward, and the Orange bring back tight end (and the ACC's top returner in receiving yards) Oronde Gadsden II, but they lose star running back Sean Tucker and three starting offensive linemen. Cuse's top-20 defense lost its three best defensive backs in Garrett Williams (NFL), Duce Chestnut (LSU) and Ja'Had Carter (Ohio State); as well as linebacker Mikel Jones (NFL). LB Marlowe Wax is back, but that's really it from an impact standpoint. Dino Babers, once again, is on the hot seat.

11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Last Season's Record: 5-7 (4-4 ACC)

After finally canning Geoff Collins following a 1-3 start to the 2022 campaign, interim head coach Brent Key went 4-4 down the stretch, and later had the interim tag removed. Georgia Tech seems to have the right man in place, but the cupboard is pretty bare. New offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and Texas A&M transfer quarterback Haynes King should have that side of the ball trending upwards, they just need to build up their skill positions. The defense performed better, but they lost their two leading tacklers in Ayinde Eley and Charlie Thomas (graduation), leading sack artist Keion White (NFL) and best defensive back in Zamari Walton (Ole Miss).

12. Virginia Tech Hokies

Last Season's Record: 3-8 (1-6 ACC)

The Brent Pry era in Blacksburg, Va. sputtered out of the gates, as Virginia Tech won their fewest games since 1992. The offense was horrendous, putting up only 313.5 yards per game for the second-worst in the ACC. Whoever is the Hokies' signal caller (returner Grant Wells or Baylor transfer Kyron Drones) must improves, and VT has to get something going in the ground game. Pry did grab a trio of solid portal wide receivers and NCA&T transfer RB Bhayshul Tuten, so there is some potential for a jumpstart, especially considering their No. 16 portal class mainly addresses that side. On defense, the Hokies lose their top two tacklers in Dax Hollifield and Chamarri Conner, as well as their top three sack artists in Hollifield, TyJuan Garbutt, and Jaylen Griffin.

13. Boston College Eagles

Last Season's Record: 3-9 (2-6 ACC)

Once viewed as one of the top up-and-comers in college football, Jeff Hafley now finds himself squarely on the hot seat after as abysmal third year. If Boston College is going to experience a bounce-back, it will be because of their defense, which returns three of their top four tacklers, including leading tackler linebacker Vinny DePalma, All-ACC pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku and others. But thanks primarily to a putrid offensive line (128th in sacks, 125th in tackles for loss), the Eagles had the worst offense in the ACC. Emmett Morehead steps in at QB following Jurkovec's departure and does have UCF transfer Ryan O'Keefe to throw to, but can that OL keep him upright?

14. Virginia Cavaliers

Last Season's Record: 3-7 (1-6 ACC)

Both on and off the field, Virginia had as bad of a 2022 season as you could have envisioned, and year two under Tony Elliott doesn't show much promise, either. The offense took a nose dive following an extremely successful showing in 2021, and now their starting QB in Brennan Armstrong, top three receivers and four starting offensive linemen are all gone. The Cavaliers' top-50 defense even lost star corner Fentrell Cypress II (FSU) and leading tackler Nick Jackson (Iowa) as well. Considering UVA didn't make much noise in the portal, 2023 could be a rough year for Elliott and Co.

(Photo of Sheridan Jones, Jordan Travis: Alicia Devine - Tallahassee Democrat)

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