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| Malachi Toney, WR, Miami |
Power Rankings
1. Miami Hurricanes
Last winter was the breakthrough Miami fans have been long awaiting since the Hurricanes made the jump from the Big East to ACC. The 'Canes went 13-3 and went on an impressive College Football Playoff run, toppling Texas A&M, Ohio State and Ole Miss en route to a National Runner-Up finish. Despite the success, the Hurricanes still have their eyes set on a clear goal in 2026: their first ACC Title since joining the league two decades ago.
Most of the offensive names remain the same, with one notable exception. Carson Beck is now an Arizona Cardinal after an impressive one-year pit stop in Coral Gables. In response, Miami went out and stole Darian Mensah away from Duke, the reigning ACC Champ. Now on his third school in as many years, Mensah left many Blue Devil fans with a bad taste in their mouths - but he represents a potential upgrade for the Hurricanes. Mensah threw 34 touchdowns on a 67% completion rate last fall, while throwing far less interceptions than Beck. Not only that, his ability to improvise and extend plays with his legs could give this Miami offense a much different element than they had in 2025.
The offensive line does lose Top 10 NFL Draft selection Francis Mauigoa, but this unit is Mario Cristobal's specialty. He'll lean on returning starter Matthew McCoy heavily at one of the tackle spots, while Georgia transfer Jamal Meriweather could fill the other after appearing in 13 games a year ago. Five-star true freshman Jackson Cantwell also comes in with significant fanfare, and is likely to see immediate snaps.
As good as Mensah and this O-Line are projected to be, it's the skill position talent that has to have Miami fans drooling. Wide receiver Malachi Toney was one of the most electrifying players in all of the land in his first season of college ball and looks well on his way to superstardom. He'll be joined by one of Mensah's favorite targets, Cooper Barkate, who caught 72 passes for the Blue Devils in 2025. Tight end Elijah Lofton will also factor in, but I am curious if another pass-catcher will emerge with all the attention defenses will pay to Toney and Barkate.
In the backfield, Mark Fletcher Jr. should once again be the feature option after notching 1,192 yards an 12 touchdowns a season ago. CharMar Brown will reprise his role as the physical short-yardage option, giving this Miami team the punch in the backfield the 'Canes have too often been missing in recent years.
On defense, coordinator Corey Hetherman engineered an extremely impressive turnaround last fall, with a group that allowed under 15 points per game and just over 294 yards per contest. He'll have to make do without Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, two NFL Draft selections who accounted for 22 sacks last fall.
Even without Bain and Mesidor, the front seven should be in good hands with Justin Scott and Ahmad Moten Sr. on the interior, plus Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II pegged as a likely breakout candidate. Senior linebacker Mohamed Toure is another bright spot, back for his eighth season of college football.
Don't be surprised if the secondary ends up as the best unit on the defense. O.J. Frederique Jr. is the established name at corner, but it's rising star Bryce Fitzgerald who could shine through after picking off six passes in just four starts in 2025.
Bottom Line: Was 2025 truly the long-awaited breakthrough? It certainly felt like it, but this Miami team is now under pressure not to only prove they are the ACC's top dog, but a program that can compete for National Titles year-in, year out. The 2026 edition may be Cristobal's most talented team yet, and the schedule is miraculously soft. It's ACC Title or bust, with the Hurricanes likely setting their eyes on far loftier sights come winter.
2. Clemson Tigers
The 2025 season was supposed to be the year of the resurgence for the Clemson Tigers. The program has clearly slipped from their late 2010s heights, but last year's group was loaded with veterans, a star quarterback, and seemed to have the right coaching staff in place to make a run at a National Title. Instead, the Tigers started off 1-3 and needed a strong second-half to finish off 7-6. Now Dabo Swinney has legitimate job pressure entering 2026, out to prove the Tigers can still be a factor not just in the ACC, but nationally.
The offense is poised to look brand new, as Cade Klubnik graduated and Dabo fired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. He turns to a familiar face in Chad Morris to run the show, who served in the same role during Clemson's ascent from 2011-14. Morris will have a bunch of fresh faces on this side of the ball, but improving on last year's numbers shouldn't be overly difficult. This is an offense that averaged 27.2 PPG (71st nationally) and featured one of the worst rushing attacks in the ACC.
Christopher Vizzina is expected to be the starting quarterback after waiting his turn behind Klubnik for three seasons. The young QB will almost certainly need time to acclimate, but will be helped by a really strong Clemson receiver corps. Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore could be one of the league's best combos, and there's still hope junior Tyler Brown could regain his 2023 form, a year in which he was a Freshman All-American.
The ground game must be better, and sophomore Gideon Davidson is ready to handle the load after showcasing flashes of brilliance last fall. He'll be helped by the addition of SMU transfer Chris Johnson Jr., all running behind an offensive line that loses some key pieces, but should be stout on the interior.
There's no staff turnover on defense, as Tom Allen will reprise his coordinator role for a second straight year. However, the personnel will look a lot different after names like Peter Woods, T.J. Parker, Aveion Terrell, and Wade Woodaz all move on. Veterans like defensive end Will Heldt and linebacker Sammy Brown are going to play outsized roles in this lineup in 2026.
Dabo finally went out and made use of the portal, and it shows with what the Clemson defense did throughout the offseason. The secondary is where the Tigers will lean on newcomers the most, as incumbent starter Ashton Hampton is joined by names like Elliot Washington III from Penn State and Corey Myrick from Southern Miss. Washington played for Allen while at Penn State and received rave reviews during the spring, while Myrick notched 92 tackles in his final season in the Sun Belt.
Bottom Line: After a truly remarkable run from 2015-2020, Clemson has lost three or more games each season since, including the six they suffered in 2025. It's no secret the program has taken a step back, but I believe that may make the Tigers an undervalued contender heading into this fall. There's still loads of talent on both sides of the ball, and the program was finally able to fill holes through the portal. Growing pains are expected given the offensive questions, but I would not be surprised at all to see the Tigers back in the thick of the Playoff race. The opener against LSU will be the perfect barometer test as they look to claw back their way into the national picture.
3. Louisville Cardinals
Jeff Brohm's three seasons at the helm of his alma mater have all looked quite similar: 10-4, 9-4, and 9-4, with a pair of bowl victories. In the weird world of modern college football, that's nothing to scoff at, but it's fair to wonder if he finally has the Cardinals in place to hit another gear. Can they emerge as the great threat to Miami inside the conference?
Bringing back star tailback Isaac Brown was huge, as the junior briefly was set to hit the transfer portal before deciding on a Louisville return. Although his numbers took a slight dip in 2025 after a monster freshman campaign, he should be a Doak Walker Award frontrunner. His backfield mate, Keyjuan Brown, offers an exciting option next to him, with the pair eclipsing 1,500 yards a year ago. That duo is going to have to handle the load again, because there are questions elsewhere.
Lincoln Keinholz is the expected starting quarterback after coming over from Ohio State. Keinholz came in with quite the pedigree out of the high school ranks, but never got a chance to show what he could do in Columbus. Brohm is considered a QB whisperer, so the pairing could work. But, the Cardinals are also without most of their top options out wide, namely Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy. Former JUCO transfer Tre Richardson could be their to-to guy, while Tulsa transfer Brody Foley will be a red zone weapon at tight end.
The offensive line is another question mark. Four starters depart, and the injury to tackle Anwar O'Neal in the spring robbed the Cardinals of a projected starter. Senior Lance Robinson is the lone familiar face, a former Houston transfer.
The defensive side of the ball has improved each and every year under Brohm, and there's reason to believe this could be his best yet. Senior defensive end Clev Lubin is an All-ACC talent who will play an outsized role on a defensive line that was hit hard by attrition in the offseason. Fortunately, he'll have a strong linebacker corps supporting him, with junior T.J. Capers and UNC transfer Tyler Thompson as the projected starters. Thompson should get NFL looks after this fall, as a 6'5" edge rusher who amassed seven sacks with the Tar Heels in 2025.
There are questions in the secondary, but veteran corner Tayon Holloway does provide Louisville a fine starting point. Who else is bound to step up in this unit? Keep an eye on D.J. Waller as a top candidate, a junior who played in 11 games on Michigan's National Title team in 2023.
Bottom Line: The Cardinals are consistent, and good bets to hit the 8-9 win territory once again in 2026. But if they ever want to reach the next level, the time is now. The conference is wide open behind Miami, the backfield has a superb 1-2 punch, and the defense has a chance to be a Top 25 group once again. If they can survive a tricky first month, which includes Ole Miss in Nashville and SMU at home, Louisville is a bonafide ACC Title contender this year.
4. SMU Mustangs
After making their first College Football Playoff in program history in 2024, last fall presented some problems early on for the SMU Mustangs. A 2-2 start threatened to spiral out of control, but Rhett Lashlee's club figured it out quickly, righting the ship and finishing 9-4 with a bowl win. Could that set the stage for another CFB Playoff run in 2026?
Returning star quarterback Kevin Jennings is quite the starting point. After splitting time in 2024, Jennings was the guy last season, and finished with 3,641 yards an 26 touchdowns. The next step in his growth will be cutting down on the turnovers, as he threw 13 interceptions a season ago.
There's good and bad news with Jennings in this offense. The backfield was bolstered by the addition of Cal transfer Kendrick Raphael, a workhorse who should have the Mustangs quickly forgetting about the departed duo of T.J. Harden and Chris Johnson Jr. The bad news is that the receiver corps was hit hard over the offseason, and lacks much proven targets aside from Yamir Knight. Alabama transfer Jalen Hale could be a name that could emerge, and Raphael will add something as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. But for an offense that relies so heavily on getting the ball vertical, it's a huge concern.
The defense has to be better if SMU has any hopes at competing for an ACC crown. The group has fit the mold of a bend-not-break unit in recent years, but the pass defense was downright terrible in 2025, surrendering over 283 yards per contest.
There are some familiar faces, notably the linebacker combo of Brandon Booker and Alexander Kilgore, but co-defensive coordinators Maurice Crum Jr. and Rickey Hunley Jr. have their work cut out for them. The defensive line lost all four starters, and is surprisingly thin for a team competing in a power conference.
The secondary also is going to be a bunch of newcomers, but perhaps that should be viewed as a positive given how bad this unit was last fall? Sophomore Marcellus Barnes Jr. is one of the few back from last season and will have to play a leadership role in the locker room.
Bottom Line: In this new-look ACC, Rhett Lashlee has built quite the operation in Dallas. The Mustangs are not afraid to flex their muscle in the portal, and an explosive offense has been the guiding force behind 31 games in the last three seasons. Having Jennings back in the fold almost assures this team will score a bunch of points, but can they defend anyone? The Mustangs have a high floor, but the season will ultimately hinge on how quickly the defense gels.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers
Pat Narduzzi is set to begin his 12th season roaming the sidelines in Pittsburgh, a rarity in a sport increasingly built on turnover and parity. And to Narduzzi's credit, his ability to evolve and make tough decisions is the reason he's held on for so long.
One of those tough decisions came last fall, when Narduzzi benched veteran QB Eli Holstein and turned to untested freshman Mason Heintschel to guide the offense. Heintschel was a revelation, winning five of his first six starts, but struggled a bit down the stretch as the schedule got more difficult. With a full offseason under his belt learning from OC Kade Bell, big things are expected from him in Year Two.
Finding the right mix at the skill positions will be key to Heintschel's success. Junior Catarus Hicks is the big play threat on the perimeter, but the Panthers are still searching for a true No. 1 at the position. Western Carolina transfer Malik Knight comes in with lofty expectations, and we could see some freshman see immediate action.
The ground game has less questions, as Ja'Kyrian Turner impressed as a freshman himself last season and will be running behind one of the strongest offensive lines in the ACC. That line boasts four returning starters, including headliner B.J. Williams at guard.
On the defensive end, it was a bit of a strange campaign in 2025. The rush defense was among the best in the country, finishing in the Top 10 nationally, allowing under 100 yards per game. Yet, the pass defense was among the worst in the conference, which sunk Pitt in some bad losses down the stretch.
There's a lot of reason to believe the D-Line will be strong once again, but you can't deny the significance of what Pitt lost at linebacker. Kyle Louis is now playing on Sundays, and Rasheem Biles got a monster NIL deal from Texas. In the depleted unit, veteran Braylan Lovelace takes on a key role.
A bunch of turnover in the secondary may also not be a bad thing for the Panthers. Safety Cruce Bookins is back as one of the most important returning pieces, and Pitt has high hopes for newcomer Raion Strader at cornerback. Strader was a star at Miami (Ohio) in 2024, but had a difficult time adjusting to the SEC at Auburn in 2025. If he can regain form, the Panthers found a potential gem in the portal.
Bottom Line: If you're looking for a team not named Miami or Clemson to take as ACC Champion, I think the Panthers may actually be your best bet. The program has a clear identity and Narduzzi has won a bunch of ACC games over his decade-long tenure. Yet, with Heintschel and Turner on offense, there's enough intriguing young talent that this team could surprise some folks. The schedule sets up well for the Panthers to vie for double-digit wins, as they should cruise to a 3-0 record in the non-conference. Add in the fact they avoid SMU and Clemson, there's a lot pointing up for this team in 2026.
6. California Golden Bears
College football's best kept secret isn't much of a secret anymore. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the nation as a true freshman, coming on to the scene and throwing for over 3,400 yards and adding 22 total touchdowns. There was worry a big-name program was going to come calling over the offseason, but locking down "JKS" was the top priority for new head man Tosh Lupoi after he took the job at his alma mater.
Lupoi's arrival won't spell major changes for this offense. Keawe Sagapolutele is going to be step back and sling the ball all over the field in an offense engineered by former Washington State head coach Nick Rolovich. Identifying new pass-catchers has been an offseason priority, but Cal feels good about a group that includes Chase Hendricks from Ohio and Ian Strong from Rutgers. There's also still hope for a Cooper Perry emergence, as the former Oregon transfer came with much fanfare out of high school, as the No. 2 overall recruit in the state of Arizona.
The absence of Kendrick Raphael in the backfield stings, but Cal is hopeful Washington transfer Adam Mohammed can acclimate quickly after tallying 523 in a rotation last fall. He'll operate behind an O-Line that loses some pieces, but is expected to trot out a group that is all 315 pounds and above.
The Cal defense was for so long the strength of the program during the Justin Wilcox era, but it's drop-off in recent years was a major contributor to his firing. Lupoi will bring his own defensive style, with Michael Hutchings set to serve as defensive coordinator after a stint in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings.
There are some solid pieces for Lupoi and Hutchings to work with in Year One, but also notable turnover throughout the unit. Up front, Cal is hopeful defensive end Nate Burrell can return to form after missing most of the 2025 campaign, while senior linebacker Jayden Wayne will also play a leadership role.
The pass defense was the strength of this defense last fall, and could be once more in 2026. Sophomore safety Aidan Manutai was a pleasant surprise a year ago and could form quite the duo with junior Isaiah Crosby, another player ready to show out after an injury-plagued 2025 season.
Bottom Line: There's some real juice to this Cal program again with an alum in Lupoi bringing back some energy, and Keawe-Sagapolutele at the controls of the offense. There are notable holes to fill on both sides of the ball and growing pains should be expected with a new staff in place. The schedule is no breeze, with a pair of tricky non-conference dates with UCLA and UNLV, but cools down during the back-half. This has the feels of a flawed, but fun, Golden Bears team that could certainly build on 2025's seven victories.
7. NC State Wolfpack
Dave Doeren enters Year 14 at the helm in Raleigh, and there's a chance junior QB C.J. Bailey could be one of the best quarterbacks he's had in years. After a promising freshman campaign, Bailey showed out in 2025, totaling 3,105 yards and 25 touchdowns through the air, while adding six more with his legs. If his development timeline continues as expected, he should be one of the ACC's best this fall.
The key for the Wolfpack will be finding the right pieces around Bailey. Losing Hollywood Smothers at tailback is a major loss after he secured a huge NIL deal with Texas, meaning NC State will turn to either sophomore Jayden Scott or North Carolina transfer Davion Gause at the position.
There's questions out wide, too, with NC State losing tight end Justin Joly and a pair of impactful wide outs in Noah Rogers and Terrell Anderson. The staff is hopeful junior Keenan Jackson is ready to step up and become a No. 1 option, but it's likely they'll also need to lean on transfers. Victor Snow is the most promising newcomer, a transfer from Buffalo who notched 815 yards last season. A 5'8" gadget option, Snow will bring some creativity to this offense, but it remains to be seen if he can hold up in power conference ball.
Up front, the offensive line has a chance to be a bright spot in keeping Bailey protected. Although left tackle remains a question mark, the right side is set with veteran tackle Teague Andersen and hard-nosed guard Spike Sowells Jr.
On the defensive side of the ball, it came as a genuine shock to see just how poorly this NC State group shaped up in 2025. Throughout the Doeren era, they've been known as a disciplined, well-coached group that produced at a higher level than the talent level may suggest. Last year, they surrendered nearly 412 yards per game (109th nationally) and were among the worst pass defenses in the nation.
Defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot is under pressure to turn things around, and the Wolfpack were active plugging holes in the portal. Linebackers Harvey Dyson and Popo Aguirre were major gets, with Dyson coming from Tulane and Aguirre from Miami. Dyson's pass rushing ability will be a welcome sight in applying some more pressure on opponents, as he had eight sacks and 11.5 sacks for Tulane in 2025.
In the secondary, there's pieces from some major programs also coming in. Sophomore Ondre Evans comes in from Georgia to bolster the cornerback room, while King Mack comes over from Penn State. Mack took off last season after a one-season pit stop at Alabama, and brings the type of pedigree that was missing on this side of the ball last year.
Bottom Line: In the crazy world of modern college football, Dave Doeren's consistent success should be admired across the country. Over 13 years, he's had 11 winning seasons, and managed at least eight wins eight separate times. He has a group that should add to that number in 2026, especially if Bailey continues his growth as expected. The rest of the offense does have their share of questions, but an improved defense could make up the difference. One caveat - the Wolfpack begin their season all the way in Rio De Janeiro against Virginia in one of the wackiest season-opening schedule decisions I can recall in recent memory. Teams that start their season with so much travel tend to struggle, and NC State will have to break that mold if they want another successful year.
8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Following their best season in nearly a decade, Georgia Tech is dealing with turnover throughout their roster. That includes not only the personnel, including QB Haynes King and tailback Jamal Haynes, but the coaching staff, too. Losing offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to the same post at Florida was a significant blow over the offseason.
The new OC will be George Godsey, who has spent most of his career in the NFL. He'll be working with Alberto Mendoza, who comes down south after a stint backing up his Heisman-winning older brother, Fernando. Whether any of that magic rubbed off on Alberto remains to be seen, but he did appear in nine games last season for the National Champion Indiana Hoosiers.
With the Yellow Jackets breaking in a new signal-caller, the expectation is that this offense will lean heavily on the run. Malachi Hosley was arguably better than Haynes last season after averaging over seven yards per carry, and the staff further bolstered the position by landing Justice Haynes from Michigan. Haynes looked like one of the best tailbacks anywhere in the country over the first half of last season before an injury caused him to miss the remainder of the fall.
New names must also emerge out wide, as the receiver room turned over in a major way over the offseason. Sophomore Jordan Allen has major expectations surrounding him as the only Georgia Tech pass-catcher who caught a pass returning to this roster.
There's turnover on defense, as well, with the Yellow Jackets turning to Jason Semore as defensive coordinator. Semore has familiarity with the program when he served as LB coach for GT in 2022, but has spent the last few seasons in the Sun Belt with Marshall and Southern Miss.
Semore will be tasked with improving a defense that was 92nd nationally, surrendering over 399 yards per contest. There is a solid nucleus of veterans back in the fold, namely linebackers Kyle Effor and E.J. Lightsey, but the Yellow Jackets will also have to lean on transfers in key spots.
There's hopes Noah Carter could emerge as a force at defensive end for Georgia Tech after coming over from Alabama, perhaps providing some juice to a group that wasn't great in 2025. The secondary could lean on transfers at both cornerback spots in Jonas Duclona and Jaylen Mbakwe.
Bottom Line: Brent Key has done a superb job at his alma mater, an increasingly tough job in today's NIL landscape. Replicating last season's success is going to be tough given some of the losses, but the Yellow Jackets should still be a tough out. The running back duo has potential to be perhaps the best in the league, and Semore could be just what is needed to get the defense out of its funk. Key just gets the most from this roster, and you can expect them to win one or two games you would not expect. A win in the opener over Colorado could set the stage towards a 7-8 win campaign.
9. Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia was remarkably patient with head man Tony Elliott, and it finally paid off in 2025. After three straight losing seasons, the Cavaliers jumped to 11 victories and played for an ACC Championship a season ago. The goal now? Keep on building on it.
There was some hope veteran QB Chandler Morris could get another year of eligibility, but it was denied in April, ending his winding college career. That leaves an interesting quarterback competition here in Charlottesville, with Missouri transfer Beau Pribula battling Pittsburgh transfer Eli Holstein. Both bring starting experience, but Pribula's ability to create with his legs is likely to give him an edge.
Pribula will benefit from a receiver corps that had significant turnover, but may have actually improved. Rico Flores Jr. (UCLA), Da'Shawn Martin (Kent State), and Jacquon Gibson (UMass) could end up being an effective trio.
The ground game will have to lean on some fresh faces, but will be operating behind a superb offensive line. The Cavaliers bring back three starters, including stalwart left tackle McKale Boley, and the program is hopeful Monroe Mills finally takes the next step on the right side of the line.
The defense was a Top 25 group in 2025, and returns plenty of key pieces. This was a team that both got after the quarterback and stopped the run at a very high level a season ago, and there's reason to think they'll do it again. Linebacker Kam Robinson is an All-ACC talent who looks to be 100 percent again after dealing with injuries down the stretch. Alongside him in the front seven are familiar faces in Fisher Camac and Jason Hammond, while the team has high hopes for Baylor transfer Matthew Fobbs-White.
There are more questions in the secondary for coordinator John Rudzinski. Corner Donovan Platt and safety Ethan Minter are fine starting points, but there are also transfers likely playing major snaps. Michigan transfer Brandyn Hillman is talented, however, and could be the pleasant surprise on the back-end.
Bottom Line: Despite 11 wins a year ago, it feels like Virginia is being a bit overlooked in the context of the ACC. Sure, losing Morris and several other key skill position pieces will hurt. With that being said, the defense could be among the best in the league, and should provide the Cavaliers the time they need to figure things out on offense. The schedule avoids Miami, Clemson, and Louisville, but could be tricky given two neural site games. One of those games is the strange trip to Rio De Janiero to match up with NC State, the other a date with West Virginia in Charlotte. How the Cavaliers manage those two over the first month of the fall could make or break their season.
Teams 10-17 in Part 2
All-ACC Teams
First Team
QB Darian Mensah, Miami
RB Isaac Brown, Louisville
RB Justice Haynes, Georgia Tech
WR Malachi Toney, Miami
WR Duce Robinson, Florida State
TE Elija Lofton, Miami
OL P.J. Williams, SMU
OL Lance Robinson, Louisville
OL Harris Sewell, Clemson
OL Noah Josey, Virginia
OL Matthew McCoy, Miami
DL Will Heldt, Clemson
DL Justin Scott, Miami
DL Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami
DL Clev Lubin, Louisville
LB Kyle Efford, Georgia Tech
LB Sammy Brown, Clemson
LB Mohamed Toure, Miami
CB O.J. Frederique Jr., Miami
CB Ashton Hampton, Clemson
S Dashawn Stone, Duke
S Davaughn Patterson, Wake Forest
Second Team
QB C.J. Bailey, NC State
RB Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami
RB Nate Sheppard, Duke
WR T.J. Moore, Clemson
WR Cooper Barkate, Miami
TE Benji Gosnell, Virginia Tech
OL Addison Nichols, SMU
OL Teague Andersen, NC State
OL Joshua Bates, SMU
OL Samson Okunlola, Miami
OL Jackson Cantwell, Miami
DL Damon Wilson II, Miami
DL Mandrell Desir, Florida State
DL Sean FitzSimmons, Pittsburgh
DL Melkart Abou Jaoude, North Carolina
LB Braylan Lovelace, Pittsburgh
LB Kam Robinson, Virginia
LB Luke Mergott, Duke
CB Bryce Fitzgerald, Miami
CB Demetres Samuel Jr., Syracuse
S Asaad Brown Jr., NC State
S Corey Myrick, Clemson
The Five Most Important Games
1. Miami @ Notre Dame (November 7) -- It's a rematch of last year's season opener, but this time Miami travels to South Bend in early November. It will be one of the few opportunities for the Irish to bolster their resume against a bonafide College Football Playoff team, while the Hurricanes will get a short reprieve from ACC action late in the year. The 'Canes have won the last two in the series now, perhaps providing the extra bit of motivation the Irish will be looking for.
2. Miami @ Clemson (October 3) -- Despite Clemson's decline in the post-COVID era, it still does feel like any ACC Champion has to go through the Tigers first. Going on the road to Death Valley will be quite the test for this Hurricanes team, but they have two advantages working in their favor. For one, they get Central Michigan a week prior in what essentially amounts to a bye. Second, Clemson is traveling all the way to Berkeley the week prior for a Friday night tilt. This Clemson team could very well be 2-2 heading into this game if the offense struggles to gel.
3. Clemson @ LSU (September 5) -- A rough-looking loss in the season opener to LSU was a sign of things to come for Clemson last year. Can they figure it out a year later? Both teams will be breaking in a bunch of new pieces in Lane Kiffin's debut on the LSU sidelines. But it's Clemson who will be on the road, with a first-time starter, being Christopher Vizzina or freshman Tait Reynolds.
4. SMU @ Louisville (September 19) -- If someone in this conference is going to upend Miami and steal the league, you're likely betting on one of these two teams making that leap. Both teams are coming off 9-4 seasons and have enough firepower returning to believe they could make a run at the conference crown. It will be the first pivotal game for SMU, while Louisville opens their season in a neutral site matchup in Nashville with Ole Miss.
5. Duke @ Miami (November 14) -- Darian Mensah's ugly exit out of Duke this past offseason should add fuel to the fire in a mid-November duel. It's easy to forget it was the Blue Devils who ended up as the ACC Champions last fall, which has to be a source of irritation for a Miami team that felt like they had their breakthrough moment in 2025. The Blue Devils could still be a tough out again, and you have to believe they'll be extra fired up for this opportunity against Mensah.
Superlatives
Offensive Player of the Year: Malachi Toney, WR, Miami
Defensive Player of the Year: Clev Lubin, DE, Louisville
Coach of the Year: Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh
Freshman of the Year: Jackson Cantwell OT, Miami
Transfer of the Year: Damon Wilson II, DE, Miami
ACC Championship Game: Miami over Clemson
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