A year after sending two teams to the College Football Playoff, the Atlantic Coast Conference is poised to be a key player in the upcoming college football season story. Our 2025 ACC Power Rankings demonstrate why the Clemson Tigers are a legitimate national title contender, while a top-heavy conference contains some teams who are set for a miserable few months of football.
17) Stanford Cardinal
In 2023, it was the start of the Troy Taylor era. In 2024, it was the start of the ACC era. In 2025, a new era of Stanford Cardinal football begins, except there’s a sense of familiarity this time.
Legendary quarterback Andrew Luck returns to the university to have a significant hand in the program’s direction. Can the record-setting former Cardinal transform Stanford’s fortunes immediately?
It feels unlikely. They’ll operate under an interim HC for the 2025 campaign, with Frank Reich announced at the end of March. Since then, the Cardinal snagged Dylan Rizk from the transfer portal, arguably an upgrade at the QB position.
Still, there’s much uncertainty about the roster, and 33% of Stanford’s 2025 schedule features teams that are currently ranked, including ACC frontrunners SMU and Miami. On the positive side, they avoid Clemson.
16) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
As we go through these ACC power rankings, it will become apparent that the conference is extremely top-heavy this fall, with the potential for some teams to be left behind.
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are entering uncharted territory this fall, preparing for their first campaign without Dave Clawson at the helm. While a necessary change, this could be something of a transitional season.
Dickert was a solid hire after guiding Washington State through a difficult 2024 campaign in an uncertain landscape. Yet, he’ll have to completely rebuild the roster with less than 40% of the total snaps from last fall returning.
It could take some time for the team to gel, but the return of Nick Anderson and Demond Claiborne is significant, as was the capture of quarterback DeShawn Purdie.
15) Virginia Cavaliers
While they are one of the lowest-ranked teams in our ACC power rankings, there are reasons to be cheerful for Virginia Cavaliers fans. Tony Elliott couldn’t decide the best option at quarterback for the past two seasons, but that issue has been resolved with Anthony Colandrea transferring to UNLV and the arrival of a highly productive passer in Chandler Morris.
The former Oklahoma, TCU, and North Texas passer led the AAC across multiple categories last fall. Yet, it’s worth pointing out that Morris’ Power Four experience led to less than 2,500 yards in four seasons.
Although the Cavaliers added some options at wide receiver for their new quarterback, the departure of Malachi Fields is suboptimal. They do, however, avoid Clemson, SMU, and Miami.
14) Virginia Tech Hokies
As they look to kick on and establish themselves as more than just a middling ACC team, the Virginia Tech Hokies quietly had a fascinating and potentially exciting offseason. Brent Pry added Philip Montgomery as offensive coordinator, fresh off winning a UFL title with the Birmingham Stallions in 2024.
Some prime beef arrived from West Virginia to bulk up the offensive line, which should pave the way for former Bowling Green juggernaut Terion Stewart.
Former Tennessee pass catcher Cameron Seldon and Wake Forest wide receiver Donavon Greene are legitimate targets for Kyron Drones. At the same time, Ben Bell should replace the production lost by Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr.
But despite all the offseason additions, it’s Drones’ health that could cripple the potential of this Hokies team after a minor medical procedure disrupted spring practice.
13) North Carolina State Wolfpack
After a mediocre season that placed pressure on head coach Dave Doeren, the North Carolina State Wolfpack made moves to improve what was an abysmal defense last fall.
D.J. Eliot joins the ACC outfit after spending a season working with Baylor. He is just two years removed from coaching a dangerous Philadelphia Eagles linebacker group. He’s the sort of hire a team that allowed 30.2 points a game needed to make.
MORE: Offseason Grades for All ACC Teams
The Wolfpack also added double-digit defensive players from the portal, while retaining talented players like Sean Brown and Travali Price. CJ Bailey and Daylan “Hollywood” Smothers give NC State two creative talents on offense, but losing KC Concepcion hurts for a team that has Miami (FL) and Notre Dame on its schedule. Thankfully, they avoid SMU and a Clemson team they lost to in 2024.
12) California Golden Bears
Life in the ACC got off to an entertaining start for the California Golden Bears, as a winning start was followed by close-fought games in the conference, fueling Calgorithm and Ott-To-Go fever.
However, when you strip back the reality of a 6-7 campaign, Cal’s wins came against competition that mainly rank lower than them in our rankings for the 2025 campaign.
Nearly all of the most talented players on the 2024 roster are gone, with the departures of Fernando Mendoza, Jaydn Ott, and Jack Endries particularly hard to replace. The OL will be four parts transfer portal additions, requiring some time to gel into a cohesive unit. The return of Cade Uluave and the capture of FIU cornerback Hezekiah Masses boost the defense.
California avoids Clemson on the schedule, but it could be tough sledding this fall.
11) Duke Blue Devils
With a 9-4 record and five conference wins, the first season of the Manny Diaz era at Duke should be considered successful, especially given the program lost starting quarterback Riley Leonard to Notre Dame.
Murphy threw for just shy of 3,000 yards, but also led the ACC in interceptions. The capture of former Tulane passer Darian Mensah should improve the QB status. Mensah will get to work behind an offensive line that returns four of five starters, with several incoming targets.
Defense has been Diaz’s calling card, and CSN All-American Chandler Rivers returns to bolster that unit. The key to the Dukes improving their position in our ACC power rankings will be their ability (or not) to beat ranked opposition.
Three of their four defeats last fall came against ranked opponents, and they have two (Illinois and Clemson) teams ranked in the preseason on a schedule that avoids Miami and SMU.
10) North Carolina Tar Heels
A lackluster 2024 campaign has given way to arguably the wildest offseason in North Carolina Tar Heels history. Legendary former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick arrives on Chapel Hill tasked with returning the program to the top of the ACC, but all the last few months have brought is tabloid-style razzmatazz thanks to off-field issues surrounding the head coach’s significant other.
MORE: Insider Makes Bold Prediction on Bill Belichick’s Tenure at UNC
Belichick secured the signature of top QB prospect Bryce Baker, but the transfer portal acquisition of Lopez could be the propellant behind any on-field fireworks this season. Still, transfer portal gains haven’t outweighed the program’s losses, and the departure of Omarion Hampton removed the only real offensive spark the team had from last year.
9) Florida State Seminoles
From the verge of the College Football Playoff to one of the worst years in program history, last season was undeniably one to forget for the Florida State Seminoles. Mike Norvell enters the 2025 campaign with a weight of pressure upon him, but as our college football power rankings suggest, a swift return to the pinnacle of the sport might not be something to expect once the action starts.
It’s an entirely new look offense, with Malzahn arriving as coordinator and former Boston College dual-threat Tommy Castellanos taking over at quarterback. Seminoles fans will hope to see him used the way Malzahn maximized the talents of John Rhys Plumlee at UCF, while Squirrel White and Duce Robinson offer speedy big-play threats at wide receiver.
Although the coaching staff changes extended to the defense with the highly regarded Tony White coming in as coordinator, a schedule containing two SEC outfits, the resurgent Hurricanes, and a road trip to the hotly fancied Clemson Tigers could cap Florida State’s ascension from the pit of the FBS at a maximum of eight wins.
8) Pittsburgh Panthers
2024 was a tale of two halves for the Pittsburgh Panthers, leaping out to a 7-0 record before losing six straight to end the year. Thankfully for Pat Narduzzi, three of those defeats aren’t on the schedule in 2025 (Clemson, SMU, and Virginia), and they’ll seek revenge for the defeat to Louisville at home in late September.
Does the program have the roster to compete for a title shot this fall?
In running back Desmond Reid and linebacker Kyle Louis, the Panthers had two players on the CSN Top 100 Returning Players for 2025. Reid was a do-it-all back last fall, providing a reliable outlet in the passing game for quarterback Eli Holstein while rampaging over defenses with the ball in his hands. However, the roster lacks the depth required to compete with the likes of Clemson in the ACC.
7) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are a team heading in the right direction. After beating Florida State to open the 2024 campaign, they secured an impressive win against Duke, took down a Miami team ranked fourth at the time, and were cruelly denied a landmark win over Georgia by some questionable officiating. If they can be more consistent this fall, big things could be coming their way.
The core of last season’s team remains. Haynes King and Jamal Haynes are one of the top backfield duos in the country. Although they lost Eric Singleton Jr. to the portal, Malik Rutherford returns and is joined by former FIU receiver Eric Rivers.
Georgia Tech’s defense will need to tighten up if it’s to challenge at the top of the conference in 2025 after giving up 25.6 points per game last year.
6) Boston College Eagles
The Boston College Eagles lost their way a little in the middle of the 2024 season, but finished the year strong with two convincing wins over North Carolina and Pittsburgh. While defensive juggernaut Donovan Ezeiruaku and multiple offensive linemen headed to the NFL, a decent talent base remains to build on in Year 2 under Bill O’Brien.
Grayson James and Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan will battle for the QB1 spot in the summer, and whoever wins will have the unique talents of Reed Harris (486 yards, four touchdowns, 28.6 yards per catch in 2024) to rely on in the passing game.
The safety duo of KP Price and Carter Davis will lead the defense from the back as the Eagles embark on a schedule with the most formidable opponents (Clemson, Notre Dame, and SMU) all at home.
5) Syracuse Orange
Fran Brown has done incredible things for the Syracuse Orange early in his tenure, orchestrating one of just three seasons in the 21st century where the AP ranked the program following the regular season.
However, between an exodus of playing staff and an ACC schedule that was made fresh from the depths of hell, Syracuse might have trouble replicating the 10-win 2024 campaign this fall.
Three pass catchers who tallied over 900 yards apiece last season are gone, as is LeQuint Allen, who ran the rock for over 1,000 yards while leading the ACC in rushing yards, and quarterback Kyle McCord headed to the NFL. Rickie Collins is an unproven commodity as a replacement passer for a team that will have to head out on the road to face Clemson, Miami (FL), SMU, and Notre Dame.
4) Louisville Cardinals
Jeff Brohm has returned successful, exciting football to the Louisville Cardinals in the past two seasons. Last fall, the program ranked in the top 10 in the country for scoring offense, averaging 36.5 points per game. Although quarterback Tyler Shough and several pass catchers are gone, Louisville returns a dynamic RB duo of Duke Watson and Isaac Brown, two of the best in the business.
Brohm turned to the transfer portal to rebuild a roster that ranks near the bottom of the FBS for returning production, notably bringing in former USC passer Miller Moss to replace Shough and landing seven defensive players who could be regular starters for the Cardinals this fall. Louisville’s path to the ACC title game, however, is as rough as they come, playing Clemson, Miami (FL), and SMU.
3) Miami (FL) Hurricanes
After the exciting antics of the Cam Ward era, the Hurricanes returned to the transfer portal well this offseason to find the less entertaining, steadier hand of former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck to lead their attack on the ACC and College Football Playoff. Mario Cristobal is banking on a full recovery from injury for the standout passer, who received a notable NIL deal to come to Miami.
MORE: CFB Analyst Reveals Top 5 Players Primed for ‘Massive’ Bounce-Back Seasons, Carson Beck Included
Although the Hurricanes lost some talent to the portal, there are notable playmakers around Beck to navigate a schedule that misses Clemson but opens with a clash against Notre Dame and features a road trip to Texas to take on SMU.
Francis Mauigoa is a rock-solid protector, CJ Daniels is an acrobatic pass catcher, and Rueben Bain Jr. is one of the more dangerous pass rushers you’ll see this year.
2) SMU Mustangs
If the SMU Mustangs are to return to Charlotte for consecutive ACC Championship Game appearances, they’re going to have to do it the hard way. Rhett Lashlee’s team travels to Clemson in mid-October and faces Louisville and Miami on its conference schedule. At the same time, two in-state out-of-conference games are no gimmes by any stretch of the imagination.
Yet, the Mustangs return enough talent to repeat the success of their inaugural ACC campaign. Kevin Jennings’ dual threat under center makes the offense exciting and unpredictable, while RJ Maryland is back after missing the 2024 campaign with injury.
Lashlee raided conference rival Miami for Zion Nelson and Chris Johnson Jr., while Zakye Barker should replace some of the lost defensive production.
1) Clemson Tigers
Dabo Swinney has had his detractors due to an archaic attitude toward the transfer portal. However, 2025 is the season when the Clemson Tigers return to the forefront of the college football landscape.
Cade Klubnik and Nussmeier go head-to-head in a battle of NFL Draft quarterbacks in a Week 1 showcase that should quantify the reality of preseason expectations for the ACC team.
Klubnik is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and a supporting cast of experienced offensive linemen and talented wide receivers should allow him to power a high-scoring offense.
Yet, it’s on the defensive side of the ball where things get really exciting, with playmakers from front to back, led by T.J. Parker, Peter Woods, and Avieon Terrell, who are all among the best at their position.
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