Our preview of the NCAA football season rolls on. After looking at the Big East Conference, and then the Big XII Conference, we move back East and look at the Atlantic Coast Conference or ACC. Last year the conference was won by the Clemson Tigers who blasted then #3 ranked Virginia Tech 38-10 in the ACC Championship game. The game was tied 10-10 at halftime, but Clemson Quarterback Tajh Boyd exploded in the second half leading the Tigers to a convincing victory.
As ACC Champion the Tigers would go on to play West Virginia in the Orange Bowl. This game did not go as well as the Mountaineers would shred the Clemson defence for 70 points, on route to the victory.
However those blowouts are ancient history now and a new season brings new hopes, and new dreams for Clemson, Virginia Tech, and all the ACC schools, so lets get to it and look at what the ACC has in store for fans in 2012.
BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES
2011-12 Record: 4-8 (3-5 ACC)
Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 7 on defense
Key Losses: LB Luke Kuechly (NFL), all-time BC leading rusher Montel Harris (removed from team for “repeated violation of team rules)
Player To Watch: Deuce Finch will be part of the committee at RB, but his ball security needs to improve.
Of Note: Four starters are returning on the offensive line.
Can’t-Miss Game: BC-Miami should be one of the better games on a weak slate September 1.
CLEMSON TIGERS
2011-12 Record: 10-4 (6-2 ACC)
Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 8 on defense
Key Loss: Electric RB Sammy Watkins- albeit only for two games- after an offseason drug arrest resulted in a suspension.
Player To Watch: QB Tajh Boyd had impressive numbers through the first three-quarters of the season, then cooled off considerably. Can he play up to his ability throughout this year?
Of Note: Only two starters return on the offensive line, a unit that struggled at times last year.
Can’t-Miss Game: September 22 on the road at Florida State
DUKE BLUE DEVILS
2011-12 Record: 3-9 (1-7 ACC)
Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Key Loss: LB Kelby Brown to an ACL injury
Player(s) To Watch: Duke doesn’t have a clear #1 RB heading into the season. Who will emerge as that guy?
Can’t-Miss Game: November 26 at North Carolina. Just pretend they’re playing basketball.
FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
2011-12 Record: 9-4 (5-3 ACC)
Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 9 on defense
Key Loss: Nigel Bradham (NFL)
Key Addition: Senior RB Chris Thompson, injured most of last season.
Player(s) To Watch: The offensive line. Four true freshman started in the Champs Sports Bowl, which the Noles won over Notre Dame, but will they have growing pains over the course of a full season?
Of Note: Florida State has more returning starters than anyone else in the ACC
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
2011-12 Record: 8-5 (5-3 ACC)
Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Key Loss: RB Stephen Hill (NFL)
Player To Watch: QB Tevin Washington didn’t throw a single TD his last seven games last season, and he has a less experienced WR corps this year.
Can’t-Miss Game: October 6 at Clemson
Of Note: The Yellow Jackets open the season with a road conference game at Virginia Tech
MARYLAND TERRAPINS
2011-12 Record: 2-10 (1-7 ACC)
Returning Starters: 4 on offense, 7 on defense
Key Loss: QB Danny O’Brien graduated and transferred to Wisconsin for grad school
Key Addition: Five-star WR Stefon Diggs. The Terps don’t get top-notch five-star recruits every day. Must be the uniforms (or maybe not).
Players To Watch: The offensive line, with just two returning starters
NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK
2011-12 Record: 8-5 (4-4 ACC)
Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Key Losses: LBs Terrell Manning (NFL) and D.J. Green (suspended one year by NCAA for testing positive for a banned supplement).
Player(s) To Watch: The defensive backfield, especially if you’re an opposing QB. All four starters return, and NC State’s defense led the NCAA in interceptions last year with 27.
Of Note: NC State has only finished with double-digit wins once, in 2002, with San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers at the helm.
Can’t-Miss Game: October 27 at North Carolina
WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS
2011-12 Record: 6-7 (5-3 ACC)
Returning Starters: 3 on offense, 7 on defense
Key Loss: WR Chris Givens (NFL)
Players To Watch: A very inexperienced offensive line
Can’t-Miss Game: November 24 against Vanderbilt, the battle of the creepy humanesque mascots
MIAMI HURRICANES
2011-12 Record: 6-6 (3-5 ACC)
Returning Starters: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Key Loss: LB Sean Spence, DE Olivier Vernon (NFL)
Key Addition: QB Ryan Williams, a transfer from Memphis who started 10 games there and sat out 2011
Of Note: The ‘Canes have tough non-conference games against Kansas State, Notre Dame, and South Florida. At some point they’ll likely have NCAA sanctions issued as well.
Can’t-Miss Game: October 20 vs. Florida State
NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
2011-12 Record: 7-6 (3-5 ACC)
Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 5 on defense
Key Loss: None
Key Addition: K Casey Barth was granted a fifth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing most of last season due to injury
Of Note: The Heels could be looking at more NCAA sanctions down the road due to the current academic fraud investigation, and are already banned from bowl games
Can’t Miss Game: October 13 at Miami. Call it the Sanctions Bowl.
VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
2011-12 Record: 8-5 (5-3 ACC)
Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 5 on defense
Key Loss: 3 of their defensive front 4
Of Note: True sophomore Demetrious Nicholson is the only returning starter in the defensive secondary
Can’t-Miss Game: November 24 at Virginia Tech
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
2011-12 Record: 11-3 (7-1 ACC)
Returning Starters: 3 on offense, 9 on defense
Key Loss: ACC Player of the Year RB David Wilson (NFL)
Player(s) To Watch: The RB corp attempting to replace Wilson
Of Note: The Hokies led the ACC with 41 sacks last year, and return almost their entire defense
Can’t-Miss Game: October 20 at Clemson is the only road game on the schedule that should be a challenge for VT
ACC OVERVIEW
Conference Champ: Florida State
Possible Dark Horse(s): Virginia Tech, Clemson
Offensive POTY: Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas
Defensive POTY: Virginia Tech LB Bruce Taylor
Coach On The Hot Seat: David Cutliffe, Duke (15-33 in four years)
