ACC full of depth
National champion Clemson is among elite but might be second best in top conference
If you still had reservations about the Atlantic Coast Conference’s claim to being the best league in the Football Bowl Subdivision — and are willing to ignore the statistics and numbers that back up this claim — just listen to its head coaches.
“This is a deep league,” Clemson’s Dabo Swinney said at the ACC media days in July. “The best conference in football,” Boston College’s Steve Addazio called it. Not that they’d say anything else.
But the best proof to support this assertion? There’s that Heisman Trophy, for one. And that national championship. And that other national championship — the ACC has won two of the last four, in fact.
There’s that 10-4 mark in games last fall against the Southeastern Conference. The 6-2 record against the Big Ten. In total, a 17-9 finish against fellow Power Five competition. Eleven teams with winning records, six with nine or more wins.
Still don’t believe it? Check out the ACC in 2017.
Clemson is one of the elite programs in the country — and might be the second-best team in its own division, let alone the conference. Louisville touts one of the nation’s most electric quarterbacks and offenses. Miami (Fla.) quietly is piecing together the roster and coaching staff needed to reclaim its perch. Virginia Tech has its coach in Justin Fuente.
Take it from Swinney, who said this after Clemson’s win against Alabama in January: “I watched all the Big Ten film and all that stuff. This is the best conference in college football. It’s the deepest; it’s the most competitive.
“You don’t want to play a team from this conference. You just don’t. I don’t care; name one.”
BEST UNITS
Quarterback: Louisville. Lamar Jackson is good at football.
Running back: Florida State. The Seminoles are set to unleash their next great running back, Cam Akers, in a key role.
Wide receivers and tight
ends: Clemson. Not that Florida State’s group isn’t outstanding, but the Tigers continue to hold the deepest receiver corps in the conference despite losing AllAmerica pick Mike Williams and all-conference tight end Jordan Leggett.
Offensive line: Clemson. Now a junior, potential All-America tackle Mitch Hyatt headlines an offensive line that will be better than last season’s unit.
Defensive line: Clemson. This line is going to be scary with tackles Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins, but don’t forget about end Clelin Ferrell.
Linebacker: Florida State. One year after standing as a weakness entering the season, this crop of linebackers is one of the Seminoles’ unquestioned strengths.
Secondary: Florida State. Derwin James, Tarvarus McFadden … this is the best secondary in the country.
Special teams: Miami (Fla.). The Seminoles’ talent level is an advantage here, but the team’s offseason losses in the return game give the Hurricanes the edge.
RANKING THE STARTING QUARTERBACKS
1. Lamar Jackson, Louis
ville. Maybe the most overlooked, underdiscussed reigning Heisman Trophy winner in recent college football history.
2. Deondre Francois, Flori
da State. The Seminoles’ only concern at the position is where to turn if Francois misses any meaningful amount of time because of injury. 3. Ryan Finley, North Caro
lina State. Finley is due for a very solid season for the Wolfpack and offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz.
4. Max Browne, Pittsburgh.
The graduate transfer from Southern California will provide the Panthers with high-level quarterback play. 5. Daniel Jones, Duke. His breakthrough might not come in 2017, but the combination of Jones, a sophomore, and noted quarterback whisperer David Cutcliffe is a very interesting one. 6. Kelly Bryant, Clemson.
He’s the starter for the opener, at least, though Swinney and his cooffensive coordinators might not wait long to pass the baton to one of the Tigers’ two freshmen. 7. Eric Dungey, Syracuse. It’s hard not to put up crooked numbers running Dino Babers’ system.
8. Brandon Harris, North Carolina. He won’t match Mitchell Trubisky’s numbers, but if Harris can get on the same page during fall camp, the Tar Heels should feel comfortable with their situation under center. 9. Josh Jackson, Virginia Tech. Starting a redshirt freshman is a concern — but Justin Fuente has more than earned the benefit of the doubt.
10. Malik Rosier, Miami
(Fla.). Rosier has done enough this offseason to earn the job coming out of fall camp, but whether he can fend off the Hurricanes’ other options depends entirely on his play in September. 11. Kurt Benkert, Virginia.
It’s all about turnovers — avoiding them, namely — for the Cavaliers senior.
12. Matthew Jordan, Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have four options under consideration, but here’s betting Paul Johnson eventually settles on his backup the last two seasons. 13. Darius Wade, Boston College. It’s probable that Wade earns the starting nod, but he’ll have to keep an eye on redshirt freshman Anthony Brown.
14. Kendall Hinton, Wake Forest. It seems like Hinton is Dave Clawson’s guy, but junior John Wolford’s play this month might make this a difficult decision.
GAMES OF THE YEAR
(in the Florida Atlanta),most anticipatedState Sept. vs.2. seasonIt Alabamamight open- be er lege in football.the last few decades of col
ginia Virginia(in Tech Landover,vs. West Md.),VirSept.great, but2. Westit’s an Virginia interesting won’t first be test for redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Jackson.
North Carolina State vs. South Carolina (in Charlotte), Sept. 2. If the Wolfpack are for real — and maybe they are — they will beat the Gamecocks on a neutral field.
Auburn at Clemson, Sept. 9.
This is a show-me-something game for both teams, though Auburn has more to prove than does Clemson on a national scale. Pittsburgh at Penn State, Sept. 9. The Panthers look to make it two in a row against their in-state rivals.
Clemson at Louisville, Sept. 16. The Cardinals have firepower, but I can’t help but think Clemson’s defensive line eats Louisville’s offensive line for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Miami (Fla.) at Florida
State, Sept. 16. The Hurricanes are getting closer in terms of overall talent, but topping FSU on the road in 2017 still seems like a tall order. Virginia Tech at Miami (Fla.), Nov. 4. That the Hurricanes get the Hokies at home is one key reason I’m pegging them to win the Coastal Division.
Florida State at Clemson, Nov. 11. Once again, the game of the year in the ACC and one of the defining games across the entire FBS.
Notre Dame at Miami (Fla.), Nov. 11. The Irish. The Hurricanes. Yes, please.
Florida State at Florida, Nov. 25. Maybe Florida can knock off Florida State … but probably not. North Carolina at North Carolina State, Nov. 25. No love
here whatsoever.