The 2024 college football season will kick off in just 4 days with an ACC matchup in Dublin, Ireland as Florida State will face Georgia Tech. SMU will also play their first game as a member of the ACC on that day as they face Nevada. On Thursday NC State and Wake Forest start their season as NC State plays Western Carolina while Wake Forest faces North Carolina A&T. On Friday Duke will face Elon and Stanford will play their first game as a member of the ACC when they face TCU. On Saturday all but one team will start their season including a big matchup between Clemson and Georgia as well as Miami and Florida. Boston College will begin their season on Labor Day (Monday) against Florida State.
Predicted Standings
Florida State Seminoles 11-1 (8-0)
Miami Hurricanes 11-1 (7-1)
Clemson Tigers 10-2 (7-1)
Virginia Tech Hokies 10-2 (6-2)
NC State Wolfpack 9-3 (6-2)
Louisville Cardinals 9-3 (6-2)
Boston College Eagles 8-4 (5-3)
North Carolina Tar Heels 8-4 (4-4)
SMU Mustangs 6-6 (4-4)
Syracuse Orange 7-5 (3-5)
Pittsburgh Panthers 6-6 (3-5)
California Golden Bears 5-7 (3-5)
Duke Blue Devils 6-6 (2-6)
Wake Forest Demon Deacons 4-8 (2-6)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 4-8 (2-6)
Virginia Cavaliers 1-11 (0-8)
Stanford Cardinals 1-11 (0-8)
Top 10 Offensive Players
10.) Quarterback – Preston Stone – SMU Mustangs
Stone is entering his fourth season with SMU. In his first three seasons, he had played in 21 games throwing for 3,609 yards on 237 completions; he has a 59.4 completion percentage and has 30 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Last season he played in 12 games completing 206 of his 344 passes for a 59.9 completion percentage; he had 3,197 yards with 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. He would have finished seventh in completions, third in yards, and first in touchdowns in the ACC last season.
9.) Quarterback – Cade Klubnik – Clemson Tigers
Klubnik is in his third season at Clemson, he has played in 23 games entering this season posting a 63.4 completion percentage with 3,541 yards; he had 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over his first two seasons. Last season, he played in 13 games completing 290 passes of his 454 attempts for a 63.9 completion percentage; he had 2,844 yards with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He finished last season first in completions, third in yards, and tied for fifth in touchdowns.
8.) Quarterback – Grayson McCall – NC State Wolfpack
McCall is entering his first season with NC State after playing five seasons at Coastal Carolina. He played in 42 games completing 710 of his 1,016 passes for a 69.9 completion percentage: he’s thrown for 10,005 yards with 88 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his time with the Chanticleers. Last season, in seven games he completed 151 of his 224 passes for a 67.4 completion percentage; he finished with 1,919 yards and ten touchdowns with six interceptions. Despite playing in only seven games, he would have finished 11th in completions, tenth in yards, and 12th in touchdowns in the ACC.
7.) Quarterback – D.J. Uiagalelei – Florida State Seminoles
Uiagalelei had spent his first three seasons at Clemson before transferring to Oregon State, now he’s back in the ACC with Florida State. In his first four seasons, he had played in 48 games completing 695 of his 1,176 passes for a 59.1 completion percentage; he threw for 8,319 yards with 57 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. In 2023 he played in 12 games completing 180 of his 315 passes for a 57.1 completion percentage; he threw for 2,638 yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He would have finished eighth in completions, seventh in yards, and tied for third in touchdowns.
6.) Wide Receiver – Xavier Restrepo – Miami Hurricanes
Restrepo is entering his fifth season. In his first four seasons, he’s played in 39 games hauling in 131 passes for 1,717 yards with ten touchdowns. Last season, he played in 13 games catching 85 passes for 1,092 yards with six touchdowns. He finished second in the ACC in receptions, second in yards, and tied for ninth in touchdowns.
5.) Running Back – Damien Martinez – Miami Hurricanes
Martinez is entering his first season with Miami after transferring from Oregon State. In his first two seasons with the Beavers, he played in 25 games rushing for 2,167 yards on 355 attempts, he had 16 touchdowns. Last season, he played in 12 games rushing for 1,185 yards on 194 carries with nine touchdowns. Had he been in the ACC last year he would have finished fourth in carries, second in yards, and tied for tenth in touchdowns.
4.) Wide Receiver – Kevin Concepcion – NC State Wolfpack
Concepcion broke out last season in his freshman year playing in 13 games he caught 71 passes for 839 yards with ten touchdowns. He also ran for 320 yards on 41 attempts and finished the season with 1,159 yards from scrimmage. He finished third in the ACC in receptions, fifth in yards, and second in touchdowns.
3.) Quarterback – Cam Ward – Miami Hurricanes
Ward is entering his first season with Miami after transferring from Washington State. With the Cougars in his first two seasons, he played in 25 games passing for 6,968 yards on 643 completions; he had a 65.5 completion percentage with 48 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Last season, in 12 games he completed 323 of his 485 passes for a 66.6 completion percentage; he threw for 3,736 yards with 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Had he been in the ACC last season, he would have finished first in completions, first in yards, and second in touchdowns.
2.) Running Back – Jaydn Ott – California Golden Bears
Ott is in his third season at Cal. In his first two seasons, he played in 24 games rushing for 2,212 yards on 416 carries with 20 touchdowns; from scrimmage, he’s recorded 2,726 yards with 25 touchdowns. In 2023 he played in 12 games rushing for 1,315 yards on 246 carries with 12 touchdowns; from scrimmage, he had 1,484 total yards with 14 touchdowns. In the ACC last season, he would have finished second in carries, second in yards, and tied for sixth in touchdowns.
1.) Running Back – Omarion Hampton – North Carolina Tar Heels
Hampton is in his third season at North Carolina. In his first two seasons, he’s played in 26 games rushing for 1,905 yards with 21 touchdowns; he had 2,167 yards from scrimmage with 23 touchdowns. Last season, in 13 games he ran for 1,504 yards on 253 carries with 15 touchdowns; from scrimmage, he finished with 1,726 total yards with 16 touchdowns. He finished first in the ACC in carries, yards, and touchdowns in 2023.
Top 5 In Conference Games
5.) Virginia Tech @ Miami – September 27th
4.) NC State @ Clemson – September 21st
3.) Clemson @ Virginia Tech – November 9th
2.) Clemson @ Florida State – October 5th
1.) Florida State @ Miami – October 26th
Preseason All-ACC Honors
Offensive Player of the Year – Running Back – Omarion Hampton – North Carolina Tar Heels
Defensive Player of the Year – Linebacker – Barrett Carter – Clemson Tigers
Coach of the Year – Mike Norvell – Florida State Seminoles
Championship Game Prediction
Florida State over Miami 30-28
The battle of Florida will be the 2024 ACC Championship game and Florida State will get a game-winning drive and walk it off with a field goal to win their second consecutive Conference title. Miami has skill on offense which brings excitement to Miami Gardens and even with the loss in the title game they have a chance to sneak into the CFP with it being an expanded field this season.
