See where each team ranks ahead of the 2026 openers
COLLEGE FOOTBALL | ACC PRESEASON POWER POLL
Virginia offensive linemen Noah Josey (77) and McKale Boley (52) prepare to hit each other during practice on Aug. 8 at Scott stadium in Charlottesville, Va.
To no surprise, there's a clear-cut favorite in the ACC, according to the first installment of this year's Lee Enterprises ACC Power Poll.
Miami, on the heels of last year's College Football Playoff national title game appearance, earned all five first-place votes.
SMU, Louisville, Clemson and Virginia round out the top five of the preseason version of the poll, which will run weekly throughout the fall following Week 1 games.
But because the ACC has five of its members in action in Week 0, including the league game between UVa and NC State in Charlottesville on Saturday, our preseason poll is here now.
This fall's voters are: Greg Madia (Charlottesville Daily Progress), Damien Sordelett and Mark Berman (Roanoke Times), John Dell (Winston-Salem Journal) and Matthew Kiewiet (Richmond Times-Dispatch).
1. Miami (13-3, 6-2 ACC last year): The Hurricanes narrowly missed out on winning the national title last season and their CFP victories at Texas A&M, vs. Ohio State and vs. Ole Miss legitimized coach Mario Cristobal's build of the program. Miami returns key cogs in RB Mark Fletcher, WR Malachi Toney and DT Ahmad Moten from the 2025 squad and is the frontrunner in the ACC after acquiring notable transfers in QB Darian Mensah and WR Cooper Barkate from Duke and DE Damon Wilson from Missouri. Opener: at Stanford, Sept. 4
2. SMU (9-4, 6-2 ACC last year): No team has won more ACC games since coach Rhett Lashlee's Mustangs joined the league than them. They're 14-2 in conference play over the last two years, and QB Kevin Jennings is entering his third year as their starting signal-caller. He'll give them a chance to win each week. Opener: at Florida State, Sept. 7
3. Louisville (9-4, 4-4 ACC last year): In each of coach Jeff Brohm's first three seasons at Louisville, the Cardinals won at least nine games, so they've proven to be consistent. He strayed from his usual formula, though, of acquiring a proven QB — Jack Plummer in 2023, Tyler Shough in 2024 and Miller Moss last fall — and instead is going with Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz, who was the Buckeyes' backup. Opener: vs. Ole Miss in Nashville, Sept. 5
4. Clemson (7-6, 4-4 ACC last year): Clemson returns four of its top five tacklers from last season, including LB Sammy Brown who paced the 2025 Tigers with 107 tackles to go along with five sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss and seven pass breakups. The Tigers also have their two leading receivers back from last year in T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr. Opener: at LSU, Sept. 5
5. Virginia (11-3, 7-1 ACC last year): UVa broke through with an 11-win campaign and an ACC title game appearance in 2025. Fifth-year coach Tony Elliott has prioritized assembling veteran offensive and defensive fronts, and the Hoos' O-Line enters the campaign as the most experienced offensive line in the country. They're hoping the group headlined by left tackle McKale Boley and left guard Noah Josey combined with a deep RB group can deliver steadiness throughout the year. Opener: vs. NC State, Saturday
6. Georgia Tech (9-4, 6-2 ACC last year): Coach Brent Key's philosophy is to run the ball, and Georgia Tech will do it differently now that former QB Haynes King is in the NFL. The Yellow Jackets will ride their tandem of RBs in Michigan transfer Justice Haynes and returner Malachi Hosley. Both averaged 7.1 yards per run last year. Opener: vs. Colorado, Sept. 5
7. NC State (8-5, 4-4 ACC last year): QB CJ Bailey is entering his third year as the Wolfpack's starter and his dual-threat ability will give him a chance to play at the next level. NC State is replacing serious talent around him, though, in RB Hollywood Smothers and TE Justin Joly. Plus, the defense is a retooled unit. Opener: at Virginia, Saturday
8. Virginia Tech (3-9, 2-6 ACC last year): Coach James Franklin brought in enough and retained enough talent for the Hokies to be competitive in his first season at the helm. QB Ethan Grunkemeyer and TE Luke Reynolds followed Franklin from Penn State to Virginia Tech and they'll pair well with returning RB Marcellous Hawkins while veteran standout DT Kemari Copeland should be helped out by ex-Nittany Lion DE Mylachi Williams. Opener: vs. FCS VMI, Sept. 5
9. Pittsburgh (8-5, 6-2 ACC last year): After eight seasons as Pitt's safeties coach, Cory Sanders is now the Panthers' new DC and he'll have a chance to keep the unit as a strength considering they return Isaiah Neal and Sean Fitzsimmons on the D-Line and Braylan Lovelace at LB. Opener: vs. Miami (Ohio), Sept. 5
10. California (7-6, 4-4 ACC last year): New coach Tosh Lupoi, Oregon's former defensive coordinator, brought in key transfers in former Ole Miss CB Ricky Fletcher and ex-Oregon S Kingston Lopa to boost the secondary, and Lupoi added former Washington RB Adam Mohammed to pair with standout returning QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele on offense. Opener: vs. UCLA, Sept. 5
11. Duke (9-5, 6-2 ACC last year): The Blue Devils are the reigning ACC champions. And while Mensah and Barkate departed for Miami, Duke still has quality returners from the 2025 team in RB Nate Sheppard, TE Jeremiah Hasley and LB Luke Mergott. Opener: vs. Tulane, Sept. 5
12. Wake Forest (9-4, 4-4 ACC last year): The Demon Deacons have retained their entire starting defensive line from last year, and DEs Gabe Kirshke and Langston Hardy create one of the better edge rushing pairs in the conference. Last year, the duo combined for 26 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Wake Forest has questions on offense, but its defense should be solid in large part because of its D-Line. Opener: vs. Akron, Sept. 3
13. Florida State (5-7, 2-6 ACC last year): Seventh-year FSU coach Mike Norvell is by far the coach sitting most squarely on the hot seat entering the new season after last year's disappointing 5-7 campaign. The Seminoles have the best WR in the ACC, though, in Duce Robinson. Opener: vs. New Mexico State, Saturday
14. Syracuse (3-9, 1-7 ACC last year): More than anything to have a chance a bounce-back season, Syracuse needs QB Steve Angeli to stay healthy this fall and return to his pre-injury form. Angeli was the FBS leader in passing yards through four games last season before his Achilles injury derailed the year. Opener: vs. FCS New Hampshire, Sept. 5
15. North Carolina (4-8, 2-6 ACC last year): Second-year coach Bill Belichick has a new OC in former Louisville, Arkansas and Atlanta Falcons coach Bobby Petrino and a new QB in Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards. Belichick has to hope those two can revitalize the Tar Heels' offense after they averaged only 19.3 points and 289 total yards per game in 2025. Opener: vs. TCU in Dublin, Saturday
16. Stanford (4-8, 3-5 ACC last year): Former Cardinal QB Tavita Pritchard begins his stint as Stanford coach after serving as Washington Commanders QB coach for the last three seasons, and he has a tough challenge ahead in turning around a program that's experienced five straight losing campaigns. Opener: vs. Hawaii, Saturday
17. Boston College (2-10, 1-7 ACC last year): BC won its first and last games of 2025, but lost all 10 games in between. Third-year coach Bill O'Brien is seeking improvements for his program in all facets. Opener: at Cincinnati, Sept. 5
Greg Madia gmadia@dailyprogress.com @gregMadia on X
