ACC football power rankings, Week 1: Florida State starts on top
Pittsburgh Panthers 0-0
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Although they had a solid year in 2016, it seems like the big losses the Pittsburgh Panthers suffered in their lineup after last season will loom large as they try to capture the same momentum they once had.
The Panthers were a big name last year after wins over Clemson in a shootout and Penn State in an early season victory at home, both notable teams in the playoff discussions last season. However, they’ve lost some big time players in quarterback Nathan Peterman and running back James Conner, and it’ll be tough to replicate the offensive success they had without those guns in their lineup.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 0-0
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The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets looked like they’d have a lot of talent to work with heading into 2017, but they decided to dismiss star running back Dedrick Mills for a violation of the athletic department’s rules at Georgia Tech this summer. Now, it’s time to see how they handle the move.
As a true freshman in 2016, Mills went for a solid 771 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns to help lead the offense, and his departure will leave a huge void in the running game for the Yellow Jackets to try and figure out how to fill. If they can do that, they’re set. If not, the Yellow Jackets are in some trouble.