2025 Sons of Saturday ACC Preseason Poll

This week, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s finest traveled to Charlotte for the media days, signaling that football is just around the corner. In less than a month,  Stanford will kick off the conference’s season when they travels to Hawaii, a game where the Cardinal are actually 1.5 point undersdogs to the Rainbow Warriors.

Just like every conference in this new era of college football, the ACC is filled with change and turnover. Three new coaches take the helm, including a six-time Super Bowl Champion whom you may have heard of. Throw in a handful of transfer quarterbacks and tons of newcomers from the high school ranks and the portal, and the ACC remains as unpredictable as ever. But here at Sons of Saturday, we face that uncertainty head-on as we try to predict how the standings will play out. So let’s jump right into the 2025 ACC Preseason Poll, which will definitely be 100% accurate come December. 

Clemson

Clemson is the unanimous pick to win the conference this season in our poll.  The Tigers have firmly cemented themselves as the king of the conference, winning 8 of the last 10 ACC titles. This season, Clemson returns two vital championship pieces: the coach and the quarterback. Dabo Swinney remains the anchor of the program, consistently producing wins and NFL draft picks at a historic rate. Cade Klubnik returns to lead the Tiger offense after a career season where he threw 36 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions, looking like the star quarterback scouts expected him to be when he came out of Westlake High School in 2022. With seven other starters returning to the offense and coordinator Garrett Riley entering his second year in South Carolina, this unit should be able to repeat the success of last year, when they put up 30 points a game. The defense adds a new playcaller with Tom Allen coming over from Penn State. Allen will have plenty of talent to work with as the Tigers return 9 starters. With a combination of returning talent and championship experience, Clemson is not only the favorite to win the ACC, but a legit National Title contender.

Miami

After winning just 11 games in his first two seasons, Mario Cristobal was under a lot of pressure to perform in 2024. His Hurricanes delivered, starting 9-0 and producing Heisman finalist and number one pick Cam Ward. The Canes stumbled down the stretch, losing to Georgia Tech and Syracuse, which knocked them out of the ACC title game. Miami will look to take the next step this year with a new signal caller in Georgia transfer Carson Beck. The offense returns 7 starters around Beck in what should be one of the league’s top units. New defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman comes from Minnesota to revamp a defense that was 70th in points allowed last season. After another solid portal class that should add to an already talented roster, Miami has all the pieces needed to make a run at its first ACC title. 

SMU

The dark horse of 2024 returns after making a run to the ACC title game in its first year in the conference. Quarterback Kevin Jennings led the Mustangs to 9 straight wins after taking over the starting role in a week 3 loss to BYU. Jennings completed 65% of his passes and commanded an offense that put up nearly 40 points a game. The defense for Rhett Lashlee’s squad is getting a big makeover after losing 9 starters from last season. Overall, SMU loses 14 starters and will rely heavily on portal newcomers to fill the void. They also draw Clemson, Louisville, and Miami in conference play. Despite the turnover and tough schedule, SMU has the talent, quarterback, and coach to contend again in the ACC and return to the Playoffs. 

Louisville

In my ballot, I have the Cardinals finishing second in the conference, so I am extremely high on Jeff Brohm’s team. At quarterback, they replace second-round pick Tyler Shough with USC transfer Miller Moss. Moss threw for over 2500 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2024 before losing his job. Brohm should be able to get the most out of Moss, like he did with Shough. Running back Isaac Brown became the first freshman back in program history to top 1000 yards and should be a preseason favorite to take home the Doak Walker Award. Last season, the Cards’ four losses were all by one score. If they can flip that luck in 2025, they could find themselves in Charlotte on December 6th. They do face a tough schedule with road games at Miami and SMU and hosting Clemson. 

Georgia Tech

In his first full season as head coach, Brent Key led the Yellow Jackets to a 7-6 record, including an upset win over Miami and an overtime thriller where they almost knocked off second-ranked Georgia. Tech returns its two most important offensive pieces in quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes Sr. King is coming off a stellar season where he completed 73% of his passes and threw 14 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions and was second among quarterbacks in rushing. Defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci returns 7 starters from a unit that allowed only 25.6 points per game compared to 29.5 the year before. Georgia Tech misses Miami, Louisville, and SMU in conference play as they hope to make the jump from spoiler to contender. 

Duke

Many thought last season would be a rebuilding year in Durham. Manny Diaz took over for Mike Elko with just 10 returning starters and the toughest schedule in the league. The Blue Devils overcame the odds and started 5-0 and wrapped up with a very solid 9-3 record. Diaz went into the portal to grab dual-threat quarterback Darian Mensah from Tulane. Mensah led the Green Wave to 9 wins in 2024 and brings a rushing threat that was missing last season with Maalik Murphy. Diaz’s defense produced 43 sacks a year ago and adds some key transfers to a returning core of 7. Duke has exceeded expectations each of the last three seasons, and Diaz is 12-6 against the spread as an underdog, making the Blue Devils a trendy spoiler pick for 2025. 

Florida State 

Which version of the Seminoles will we get this season? The team from 2023 that won the ACC with a perfect record and just missed the Playoffs, or the disappointing team from last season that won just 2 games. The offense is getting a major overhaul with new coordinator Gus Malzahn and quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who comes over from Boston College after accounting for over 3000 yards of offense in 2023. The defense also has a new leader in Tony White, who fielded four straight top 25 defenses at Syracuse and Nebraska. Coach Mike Norvell is relying on a lot of new faces to rebound from their worst season since 1974. FSU has the talent to do it but their ACC hopes hinge heavily on the level of play they get from Castellanos. 

Virginia Tech

The Hokies entered 2024 as a sleeper pick to win the conference and a dark horse for the College Football Playoff. VT fell well short of expectations, going 6-7. After returning 21 starters a year ago, Brent Pry will have much less experience to work with as just 12 return, along with new coordinators on both sides of the ball. The offense does feature quarterback Kyron Drones returning for his third season in Blacksburg. New offensive coordinator Phil Montgomery will aim to return Drones to his 2023 form, where he led the Hokies to 43 points per game in his last four starts. The defense only allowed 23 points per game last season, but will have a reshaped roster and a new coordinator in Sam Siefkes. 5 of the Hokies' 7 losses last season were by a touchdown or less. Pry will rely on Drones to stay healthy and a cast of newcomers to turn those tight losses into wins. 

North Carolina

The Tarheels enter 2025 with the most offseason buzz of any ACC team after hiring NFL legend Bill Belichick to lead the program. South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez is projected to win the starting job at quarterback and should bring a dual-threat to UNC’s offense after accounting for 25 total touchdowns last year (18 pass, 7 rush). The offense will also have to replace some top skill players after losing its top back and three receivers. On defense, the story is much of the same, as they lose all 7 starters up front. UNC has the second-easiest conference schedule and comes in as a true wild card with a lot of new faces. 

Pittsburgh

Pat Narduzzi’s squad got off to a hot start last year, opening 7-0 before quarterback Eli Holstein got banged up and the Panthers limped to a 7-6 record. Holstein returns fully healthy and is paired with running back Desmond Reid, who ran for almost 900 yards in 2024. Pitt’s defense has averaged nearly 50 sacks per season over the last four years and returns 7 starters from last year’s unit. Pitt will once again field an aggressive defense, and if the offense can stay healthy, it should once again start strong but finish stronger. They do face a tough schedule with Miami, Louisville, FSU, and Georgia Tech on the slate.

NC State

Last year, the Wolfpack faced the league’s easiest schedule and featured a veteran quarterback in Grayson McCall, making them a hot pick to win their first conference title in 44 years. Unfortunately, McCall was injured early and NC State struggled to find their footing, going 6-7. McCall’s injury thrust true Freshman CJ Bailey into the starting job. Bailey played well in his 8 starts, throwing for the second-most yards in school history by a freshman, only behind Philip Rivers. The Wolfpack lost their top weapon in KC Concepcion to the portal, but return 8 starters overall. Dave Doeren also had to replace both coordinators this offseason. There will be a lot of new faces in Raleigh, but Doeren has only had three losing seasons in his 13 years with the Wolfpack. The first two times, he bounced back with 8-win years, and they do not face Clemson, SMU, and Louisville this season. Look for the Wolfpack to right the ship in 2025. 

Syracuse

The Orange were one of the biggest surprise teams in the conference last season. After going 2-6 in conference play in 2023, new coach Fran Brown brought some juice and high-level transfers to lead Syracuse to a 10-win season and an upset win over Miami. Syracuse is bringing in Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli to replace quarterback Kyle McCord, who threw for over 3000 yards last season. Syracuse returns just 9 starters and faces the league’s toughest schedule with road games against Clemson, SMU, and Miami. It will be an uphill battle for them to repeat last year’s success. 

Boston College

Bill O’Brien returned to the college ranks last season to take over a BC squad that returned 17 starters. After a 4-1 start, the Eagles faltered down the stretch to finish 7-6. This season, they only return 13 starters and face the third-toughest schedule in the ACC. There is also uncertainty at quarterback after losing two-year starter Thomas Castellanos to Florida State. Grayson James filled in admirably for Castellanos a year ago when he was injured. James is joined in the quarterback room by Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan and freshman Shaker Reisig. Stability in the backfield will be a major factor in Boston College’s success this year.

Virginia

The Cavs missed out on a bowl game for the 5th straight year after starting 4-1 last season. Now, Coach Tony Elliott will have to replace 12 starters, including quarterback, after losing Anthony Colandrea and Tony Muskett. They add experienced transfer Chandler Morris, who threw for over 3700 yards at North Texas last year. On defense, they return 8 starters, including 3 of their top 5 tacklers. UVA does draw the easiest schedule in the ACC, making them a potential surprise team in the league this season. 

Wake Forest

For the first time in a decade, a new coach will be on the sidelines for the Demon Deacons. Jake Dickert switches coasts, coming over from Washington State to replace Dave Clawson, who stepped down in December. Dickert brings in a Top 25 transfer class to replenish the roster, including former Auburn and South Carolina quarterback Robby Ashford. The defense will have a new look with just 6 returning starters and new coordinator Scott Hazelton. Dickert takes over a program that was left in good shape, but will have some work to do to take the Deacs to the top of the league. 

California

In their opening season in the ACC, the Golden Bears squeaked their way into a bowl game at 6-6 last season. Justin Wilcox enters his 9th season as head coach and brings in former Boise State and Auburn head man Bryan Harsin as Offensive Coordinator. Wilcox had to hit the portal hard this offseason after losing their top 5 running backs and an All-ACC tight end. Projected starting quarterback Devin Brown comes over from Ohio State sporting #33 in honor of Sammy Baugh. Major roster turnover and a new General Manager in Ron Rivera place Wilcox on the hot seat for 2025. 

Stanford

Stanford entered 2025 with some optimism as Cardinal legend Andrew Luck stepped in as General Manager. Then, in March, head coach Troy Taylor was let go after an investigation into alleged bullying in the program. Luck brings in his former NFL coach Frank Reich, who will take on his first college coaching gig as Stanford tries to rebound from a 3-win campaign in 2024. Stanford travels over 26,000 miles this season, including road games at SMU and Miami, while hosting FSU for Homecoming. The focus for this season will be getting the program’s culture going in the right direction. 

For a deeper dive on the conference and more media day shenanigans, our very own Billy Ray has all the reactions from the Queen City.