The ACC Atlantic Division standings will likely take the same shape as they have for the last several years: two big dogs at the top with championship aspirations and everyone else playing catch-up behind them. Florida State and Clemson enter the 2016 campaign with realistic College Football Playoff chances, and their meeting in Tallahassee in late October will more than likely decide the division’s representative in the ACC Championship Game. There are still intriguing storylines to watch outside the top two teams, as the little guys will try to unseat the heavyweights.
1. Clemson
The College Football Playoff runner-up from last season returns junior quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Deshaun Watson, running back Wayne Gallman and several of their play-making receivers. With Florida State having an unsettled quarterback situation and the rest of the ACC without the talent to compete, the Tigers are again the favorites to win the conference and represent the ACC in the College Football Playoff. There are no holes on the Tigers roster, which is scary for everyone that has to play them.
2. Florida State
The Seminoles are a College Football Playoff contender, but their chances took a hit when presumptive starting quarterback Sean Maguire was lost for a month with a stress fracture in his foot. Redshirt freshman Deondre Francois will take the reins and his performance will have a huge impact on how the Seminoles season turns out. Especially considering Florida State opens the season against No. 11 Ole Miss, followed by a trip to No. 19 Louisville and hosts a sneaky good South Florida team. If the Seminoles can survive the early going, they have the defensive line and secondary, plus junior running back, Dalvin Cook, that will give teams nightmares.
3. Louisville
The Cardinals have the best chance of any team in the division of unseating Clemson and Florida State. The Cardinals are one of only three teams in the ACC (the others being Clemson and Florida State) to have a winning record in each of the last two years of conference play. They are led by their explosive quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has another year of experience to try and put together all his physical tools. Couple an exciting offense with a stout defense and you could see some fireworks coming from Louisville.
4. NC State
It’s a big year for head coach Dave Doeren and company as the Wolfpack is breaking in a new offensive coordinator, quarterback and three new members of the offensive line. State has several game-changing play-makers on the offensive side of the ball to work with, as senior running back Matt Dayes, junior tight end Jaylen Samuels and sophomore wide receiver Nyheim Hines all return. They should ease the burden of whomever wins the quarterback battle between redshirt sophomores Jalan McClendon and Ryan Finley. The defensive line should be dominant, but the Wolfpack must cut down on big plays if it wants to take a significant step forward.
5. Boston College
The Eagles had the best defense in the country last year and finished 3-9. That doesn’t bode well for 2016, as the Eagles lost their defensive coordinator and several starters from last year’s defense. The bright spot in 2016 is that the offense should be more improved with grad transfer Patrick Towles taking over as quarterback. Towles brings experience and talent from Kentucky and is a huge upgrade over who the Eagles had at the position. A good year from Towles means several more wins if the defense stays par.
6. Syracuse
New coach Dino Babers brings a wide-open air attack from Bowling Green and should make the Orange an interesting team to watch. The Orange get sophomore quarterback Eric Dungey back from injury after he missed four games last season with an ankle injury. Babers has proved his system can work, but it may take time before he can recruit the personnel required to run it. The Orange will have to improve on the road this season after going winless away from the Carrier Dome in 2015.
7. Wake Forest
It has been a rough few years for the Demon Deacons and 2016 will bring more incremental steps forward along with a lot more losing. The Deacs have a two-headed quarterback monster in junior John Wolford and sophomore Kendall Hinton, who split time last year. Wolford is a more talented pocket passer, while Hinton offers dual-threat capability with his legs. The Deacons return with stud tight end Cam Serigne, but it should be another long year in Winston-Salem.
