ACC football preseason power rankings: Will anyone challenge Clemson?

Justin Fuente’s seat is getting very hot as the Virginia Tech Hokies head coach

After winning the ACC Coastal in his first year leading the Virginia Tech Hokies, Justin Fuente probably needs a third-place finish to keep his job in Blacksburg. The only problem is the rest of the Coastal has improved drastically around him. With two teams being virtual locks to be better than Virginia Tech, he has to beat teams like Pittsburgh and Virginia to feel safe heading into 2022.

Phil Jurkovec and Jeff Hafley have the Boston College Eagles soaring into 2021

It was a great first season for Jeff Hafley leading the Boston College Eagles last year. They gave Clemson a good scare, and the Eagles have an excellent returning starting quarterback in Phil Jurkovec. If Boston College can beat North Carolina State, the Eagles can finish the season as a top-25 team and come in second place to Clemson in the ACC Atlantic division standings this year.

Pat Narduzzi and Kenny Pickett will have the Pittsburgh Panthers on the prowl

While the Pittsburgh Panthers are not favored to win the ACC Coastal, they have the right head coach in Pat Narduzzi and the right veteran quarterback in Kenny Pickett to potentially finish inside of the top-25 at season’s end. Pittsburgh is not beating Miami and North Carolina this year, but the Panthers have the talent to potentially stun one of their ACC Coastal Division rivals this fall.

The North Carolina State Wolfpack will likely finish in second in the ACC Atlantic

With teams like Florida State and Louisville down and Boston College not quite there, this is a big opportunity for Dave Doeren to have his North Carolina State Wolfpack assert themselves in the ACC Atlantic. While Clemson is still the big bad wolf in the division, North Carolina State is the best bet to catch the Tigers by the tail this season. North Carolina State should win roughly nine games.

The Miami Hurricanes are one of three ACC teams who can make the playoff

Realistically, there are only three teams in the ACC capable of getting to a New Year’s Six bowl this year, and the Miami Hurricanes are definitely one of them. Depending on how their rivalry game vs. North Carolina goes, Miami can win the ACC Coastal and get to Charlotte. However, they need a Heisman Trophy-level season out of quarterback D’Eriq King to make the College Football Playoff.

Mack Brown has the North Carolina Tar Heels thriving in his third year back

If any team not named Clemson makes the College Football Playoff out of the ACC, it has to be the North Carolina Tar Heels. They have a legendary head coach in Mack Brown and potentially the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft under center in quarterback Sam Howell. With a New Year’s Six bowl appearance in the coffer from last year, North Carolina has to get to Charlotte and beat Clemson.

The Clemson Tigers should win the ACC, but it is national title or bust for them

The Clemson Tigers will be favored in every ACC game this season. We already knew that. If they lose a conference game, it will be seen as a massive disappointment. However, the Tigers’ biggest regular-season game this year is vs. the Georgia Bulldogs in Charlotte on Labor Day Weekend. If Clemson beats the Dawgs in the Queen City, the Tigers should cruise to the playoff at 13-0.

Overall, Clemson’s only ACC challengers this year are teams like Boston College and North Carolina State in the division and teams like Miami and North Carolina in the title bout. Though the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 remains vast, Miami and North Carolina are now within striking distance of being able to stop a college football juggernaut like Clemson. But it will not happen this season.

The ACC has a few strong teams, but the bottom half of the conference is holding them back.

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