Everyone rejoice! Week zero of the college football season has officially arrived. Last week, Last Word’s esteemed writers made their Big 12 predictions for the upcoming season. This week, the ACC has week zero’s premier Ireland match-up between Florida State and Georgia Tech. So with ACC football on tap, the Last Word writers offer up their ACC predictions for the 2024 season.
2024 LWOS ACC Predictions
Final Predicted Standings
Last Word had 11 writers cast their votes for these ACC predictions. Where did everyone land in the standings (first-place votes are in parenthesis)?
- Florida State (6)
- Clemson (5)
- Louisville
- Miami
- NC State
- SMU
- North Carolina
- Virginia Tech
- Georgia Tech
- Syracuse
- Cal
- Pitt
- Duke
- Wake Forest
- Boston College
- Stanford
- Virginia
Best Teams Don’t Want To Be Here
The gap between Florida State/Clemson and the third spot in the ACC is significant. As a reminder of how these ACC predictions were calculated, all writers were asked to assign each team to a spot 1-16. All selections were then added together, and the teams with the lowest totals were at the top and the largest totals at the bottom. The Noles and the Tigers had scores of 12 and 15 respectively. Lousiville and Miami finished in essentially a draw with totals of 35 and 37. Of course, the irony is that the ACC’s best two teams are actively fighting to leave the conference. However, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told the press at ACC media days that they were going to fight to keep both programs as ACC members.
On the field this year though, both teams have rightfully expectations to make the inaugural 12-playoff. Florida State, coming off an undefeated season, is having to reload in plenty of key areas. The Noles lost nine players to the NFL from last year’s team. But they start off by returning one of the best offensive linemen in the country. They are also hoping to unlock the potential of two-time transfer DJ Uiagalelei at the quarterback position. But they will have one of the best defenses in the nation and can lean on them early while the offense gels. Clemson knows the offense, starting with Cade Klubnik, needs to make strides this year to challenge for the ACC crown. Much like Florida State, Clemson will rely on its defense to do the heavy lifting this season.
Is the “U” Coming Back or Can The Cards Keep It Up?
Much like there is a gap between 1/2 and 3 in the ACC prediction standings, the gap between 3/4 and 5 also presents a substantial gap. But these two teams have the tools to shake up the top of the conference standings. In his first season as Lousiville’s head coach, Jeff Brohm led the Cardinals to 10 wins, their most since the 2013 season when they were a member of the American Athletic Conference. They have 15 starters returning. They bring in transfer quarterback Tyler Shough from Texas Tech who, when healthy, can play at a high level.
Miami is fielding its most talented team since 2017 when they won 10 games. Mario Cristobal, looking to bring his alma mater back to national prominence, has an exciting playmaker in transfer quarterback Cam Ward. Year four should be a breakout year for the Canes, especially with a very manageable schedule. Time will only tell if they know how to run the victory formation in 2024.
Sleepers Are Holding Down 5-9
The next four teams in these ACC predictions can beat anyone in the league on a given Saturday. However, consistency will be the issue for most of these teams. NC State, perpetually an eight-win team, is hoping Coastal Carolina quarterback transfer Grayson McCall can help them break through. SMU joins the P4 ranks with a talented roster, but depth playing a P4 schedule will show itself for the Mustangs. Mack Brown is determined to show that he can still coach them up in Chapel Hill, even with the departure of Drake Maye. The Hokies went 6-3 down the stretch last season and have 22 starters returning in 2024. Georgia Tech also brings back a ton of productions (17 starters), including breakout quarterback Haynes King.
Could Be A Long Season for Bottom Half
Out of a possible 88 votes, the bottom half of the ACC predictions only received a combined six votes to finish better than 10th (with the highest being 7th). Out of the eight teams, only three went to bowl games last year and none of them won more than seven regular season games. Cal does return outstanding running back Jaydn Ott, but nothing else of significance. Duke is dealing with the loss of their head coach, their stand-out quarterback transferring to Notre Dame, and losing 17 players to the transfer portal. Boston College is also dealing with a new head coach and a defense that was one of the worst in the ACC last year.
Of the teams who didn’t make a bowl game last year, Syracuse has a lot of buzz with the hiring of Fran Brown, but Syracuse landed at the 10 spots more so on the weak schedule than the talent on the roster. Pitt needs to right the ship after a three-win campaign in 2023, and reinforcements did not exactly come in bunches. Wake Forest, who is dealing with significant injuries in fall camp, has to find answers to a 4-8 season in which the slow mesh never actually meshed. Stanford is still a work in progress entering Troy Taylor’s second season with the Cardinal. Virginia, who has dealt with some horrific non-football-related circumstances, is now entering Tony Elliots’ third season. With a combined six wins in two seasons, there isn’t much reason to think the Hoos will take much of a jump in a pseudo-Year 1.5 for Elliot.
