While the ACC might be viewed as the weakest of college football’s Power Four conferences, it proved its doubters wrong last season by placing two teams in the College Football Playoff. Several teams have made noise just outside the ACC Championship picture in recent years—and many of those same programs are poised to do it again this season. In this article, I will reveal the second part of my ACC predictions and previews consisting of the following teams: Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, and Miami.

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Florida State Seminoles

8/30 – vs. Alabama – Loss

9/6 – vs. East Texas A&M – Win

9/13 – BYE

9/20 – vs. Kent State – Win

9/26 – @ Virginia – Win

10/4 – vs. Miami – Loss

10/11 – vs. Pittsburgh – Win

10/18 – @ Stanford – Win

10/25 – BYE

11/1 – vs. Wake Forest – Win

11/8 – @ Clemson – Loss

11/15 – vs. Virginia Tech – Win

11/21 – @ NC State – Win

11/29 – @ Florida – Loss

Final Record: 8-4 (6-2)

Mike Norvell’s tenure at Florida State has been marked by significant highs and lows. Many expected the Seminoles to maintain their position atop the ACC and secure a spot in the twelve-team College Football Playoff after narrowly missing out the previous year. Instead, Florida State experienced one of college football’s most dramatic declines, falling from a top-ten ranking to a disappointing 2–10 record—their worst season since 1974. This led to major coaching changes, with offensive coordinator Alex Atkins being replaced by former Auburn and UCF head coach Gus Malzahn, and defensive coordinator Adam Fuller giving way to former Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White. The roster also underwent a major overhaul, as many key players entered the transfer portal. However, like most of Norvell’s teams, the current roster is loaded with transfers.

Last season’s offense was abysmal, but this year’s unit is bolstered by impactful transfers. Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos appears to fit the Norvell mold better than previous starter DJ Uiagalelei. Returning running back Roydell Williams will share carries with Oklahoma’s Gavin Sawchuk, rising sophomore Kam Davis, and Castellanos himself, who rushed for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. The wide receiver group features a strong trio of transfers: USC’s Duce Robinson, Tennessee’s Squirrel White, and North Carolina’s Gavin Blackwell. Meanwhile, Malik Benson and Hykeem Williams have transferred to Oregon and Colorado, respectively, and Ja’Khi Douglas has graduated. Landen Thomas is expected to improve at tight end alongside UCF transfer Randy Pittman Jr.

The trenches have also seen significant turnover via the portal, with four projected starters on offense and two on defense. Notably, Nebraska defensive end James Williams replaces LSU’s new edge rusher Patrick Payton. At linebacker, Memphis transfer Elijah Herring adds experience to a group still searching for consistency and production. Aside from returning safety Shyheim Brown, the young defensive talent—including former five-star corner Charles Lester III—still needs to prove its potential.

The Seminoles have assembled a roster designed to tackle a challenging schedule from top to bottom. They open with a marquee home matchup against Alabama in the newly renovated Doak Campbell Stadium, which will see a full house for the first time in two seasons. Their conference schedule is equally tough, featuring games against Miami at home and a November road trip to Clemson, just three weeks before the intense in-state rivalry clash at Florida in Gainesville.

I don’t anticipate a repeat of last year’s struggles. With the right pieces now in place, Florida State should field a solid team capable of finishing in the upper half of the ACC.

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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

8/29 – @ Colorado – Win

9/6 – vs. Gardner-Webb – Win

9/13 – vs. Clemson – Loss

9/20 – vs. Temple – Win

9/27 – @ Wake Forest – Win

10/4 – BYE

10/11 – vs. Virginia Tech – Win

10/18 – @ Duke – Loss

10/25 – vs. Syracuse – Win

11/1 – @ NC State – Loss

11/8 – BYE

11/15 – @ Boston College – Win

11/22 – vs. Pittsburgh – Win

11/28 – vs. Georgia – Win

Final Record: 9-3 (5-3)

Georgia Tech has been one of the more intriguing stories over the past two years since hiring Brent Key as their head coach. The Yellow Jackets finished 7–6 in both seasons, highlighted by two late upset wins over Miami and two very close losses to Georgia, including last year’s eight-overtime thriller in Athens.

These inspired performances have been driven by quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes, both returning for another season as part of one of the ACC’s best backfields. Under offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s intriguing run-heavy schemes—which occasionally include reverses, play-action, and even some trick plays—the offense has shown a dynamic edge. Losing wide receiver Eric Singleton to Auburn was a setback, but bringing in FIU star wideout Eric Rivers to pair with Malik Rutherford has helped maintain offensive cohesion. Tight end Brett Seither looks poised to finally fulfill his potential after missing last season due to injury, and Luke Harping adds promising depth to the position. The offensive line was outstanding last year, allowing the third-fewest sacks nationally. Although only two starters return—guards Keylan Rutledge and Joe Fusile—both are key contributors, and five-star freshman Josh Petty provides exciting upside.

On defense, new coordinator Blake Gideon leads a unit anchored by a solid linebacker duo: sack leader Kyle Efford and a healthier EJ Lightsey. The secondary, while not prolific in interceptions last year, boasts some of the best tackling defensive backs in the country. The group has good depth, highlighted by corners Ahmari Harvey and Rodney Shelley, as well as safeties Omar Daniels and Clayton Powell-Lee. While a couple of decent Group of Five transfers bolster the secondary, most defensive reinforcements come in the trenches. After losing their most disruptive pass rusher, Romello Height, to Texas Tech, the Yellow Jackets add Clemson’s AJ Hoffler and UTSA’s Ronald Triplette on the outside, alongside returning star tackle Jordan van den Berg inside.

They open the season in Boulder against a Colorado team that will be significantly impacted by the absence of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. Outside of monumental home matchups against Clemson in mid-September and Georgia on Black Friday, Georgia Tech’s schedule features many games that should tilt in their favor.

I expect Brent Key’s squad to take an even bigger leap forward this season, possibly pulling off a major upset along the way and positioning themselves as contenders for the ACC Championship and College Football Playoff.

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Louisville Cardinals

8/30 – vs. Eastern Kentucky – Win

9/5 – vs. James Madison – Win

9/13 – BYE

9/20 – vs. Bowling Green – Win

9/27 – @ Pittsburgh – Loss

10/4 – vs. Virginia – Win

10/11 – BYE

10/17 – @ Miami – Loss

10/25 – vs. Boston College – Win

11/1 – @ Virginia Tech – Loss

11/8 – vs. California – Win

11/14 – vs. Clemson – Win

11/22 – @ SMU – Loss

11/29 – vs. Kentucky – Win

Final Record: 8-4 (4-4)

Jeff Brohm’s first two seasons at Louisville resulted in back-to-back nine-win campaigns, including an appearance in the 2023 ACC Championship. This year, the Cardinals have the potential to match or even exceed those accomplishments.

Offensive coordinator Brian Brohm will be replacing quarterback Tyler Shough with USC transfer Miller Moss, who is poised for a breakout season—especially with Jeff Brohm at the helm. Moss will be joining Isaac Brown, the 2024 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Duke Watson in what could become one of the conference’s most dangerous running back tandems, having combined for 1,770 rushing yards last season. Leading receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, who just eclipsed 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, is now gone, but wide receivers Chris Bell and a finally healthy Caullin Lacy return, both capable of surpassing the century mark in receptions. Tight ends Mark Redman and Jamari Johnson have also departed, so Louisville will rely on Jaleel Skinner and possibly San José State transfer Jacob Stewart to fill those roles. If the revamped offensive line can replicate last season’s strong pass protection, Louisville could boast one of the nation’s more potent offenses—especially given the talent in the backfield.

Although Ron English’s defense lost pass rusher Ashton Gillotte to the NFL Draft, Coastal Carolina transfer Clev Lubin is expected to step in effectively, and Wesley Bailey could emerge as a breakout candidate. The interior defensive line will need to improve to provide a solid front against both the run and the pass. The linebacker unit returns leading tacklers TJ Quinn and Stanquan Clark, along with Antonio Watts, making it the defense’s most experienced and productive group. The biggest question mark lies in the secondary, which played a crucial role in many of Louisville’s outcomes last season and lost several defensive backs in the offseason; their replacements will need to step up significantly. For the second consecutive season, the Cardinals will face the ACC’s top three teams from last year, including a Friday night road game at Miami in October and a Friday night home matchup against Clemson, as well as a tough road game against SMU in November to close out their conference schedule.

With one of the ACC’s easiest non-conference slates and multiple winnable games, Louisville has the potential to pull off some significant wins—something Jeff Brohm became known for at Purdue, where he defeated three top-three teams over four seasons.

I expect another strong showing from Louisville and Brohm, who remains one of the most underappreciated coaches in the FBS.

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Miami Hurricanes

8/31 – vs. Notre Dame – Win

9/6 – vs. Bethune-Cookman – Win

9/13 – vs. USF – Win

9/20 – vs. Florida – Loss

9/27 – BYE

10/4 – @ Florida State – Win

10/11 – BYE

10/17 – vs. Louisville – Win

10/25 – vs. Stanford – Win

11/1 – @ SMU – Loss

11/8 – vs. Syracuse – Win

11/15 – vs. NC State – Win

11/22 – @ Virginia Tech – Win

11/29 – @ Pittsburgh – Win

Final Record: 10-2 (7-1)

Entering Year Four of the Mario Cristobal era, Miami hopes to build on last season’s ten-win campaign.

On offense, third-year coordinator Shannon Dawson returns to lead a unit headed by Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck, who will need to stay healthy after suffering an elbow injury in last year’s SEC Championship Game and step up to fill the massive shoes left by top overall NFL Draft pick Cam Ward. Running back Damien Martinez has turned pro, but North Dakota State transfer CharMar Brown joins Mark Fletcher and Jordan Lyle to form a backfield with plenty of upside. The wide receiver group sees LSU’s CJ Daniels and BYU’s Keelan Marion come in to replace Xavier Restrepo and new Alabama wideout Jacolby George, joining Joshisa Trader and Ray Ray Joseph. Sophomore tight end Elija Lofton also shows great promise, helping ease the loss of Elijah Arroyo. And, as expected from a Mario Cristobal-coached team, the offensive line will once again be elite, anchored by tackle Francis Mauigoa and two returning starters, along with TCU transfer James Brockermyer at center.

Former Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman has traded the cold for the heat to replace Lance Guidry and inherits a formidable defensive line that continues to reload with talent both inside and outside, led by potential first-round pick Rueben Bain. Although leading tackler and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa is gone, Wesley Bissainthe and Raul Aguirre remain active and disruptive in the middle. The secondary faces a tough challenge after losing cornerback and interception leader Mishael Powell, but sophomore cornerback OJ Frederique, highly regarded by the coaching staff, will be joined by solid transfers like Wisconsin’s Xavier Lucas, Michigan State’s Charles Brantley, and Jacksonville State safety Zechariah Poyser.

Miami opens the season with two huge home games against Notre Dame and in-state rival Florida. Following two byes in three weeks and a road trip to Florida State, they’ll face crucial conference matchups against Louisville at home and then SMU in Dallas, where former offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee now coaches. The season closes with a stretch of winnable games, giving Miami a chance to finish strong.

Erasing the disappointment of last season’s close losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse, missing the ACC Championship Game and College Football Playoff, and falling by one point to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl will be no easy task. However, this Miami team once again boasts talent across the board, and I expect them to be competitive in the ACC Championship conversation—and perhaps even contend for a College Football Playoff berth.