2015 IN REVIEW

Boston College Eagles

Final record: 3-9. Despite having one of the nation’s toughest defenses, the Eagles followed up a 3-1 start by losing their last eight games. Lacking the offense to pair up with their stingy defense, the Eagles lost nine games by a total of 67 points, including a 20-17 loss to Syracuse to close out the season.

Clemson Tigers

Final record: 14-1. The Tigers rode sensational sophomore and Heisman finalist Deshaun Watson and their high-octane offense to a perfect regular season, conference championship and first-round playoff win over Oklahoma. The Tigers lost a thrilling game to Alabama 45-40 in the national championship game.

Duke Blue Devils

Final record: 8-5. The Blue Devils started off the 2015 season by winning six of their first seven games. However a fourgame losing streak followed, before closing the regular season out with a win over state rival Wake Forest. The Blue Devils finished their season with a 44-41 overtime win against Indiana in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Florida State Seminoles

Final record: 10-3. Despite a midseason loss to Georgia Tech that snapped a 30-game regular season winning streak, the Seminoles were still in the hunt for an ACC championship until a 23-13 loss to eventual conference champion Clemson. After a dominating 27-2 win over hated rival Florida in the regular season finale, the Seminoles were stunned by AAC foe Houston 38-24 in the Peach Bowl.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Final record: 3-9. After a pair of wins to start the season, the Yellow Jackets went on to lose nine of their last 10 games, managing only a 22-16 win over No. 9 Florida State on a last-second blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. The Yellow Jackets closed out the season with a 13-7 loss to in-state rival Georgia.

Louisville Cardinals

Final record: 8-5. After losing their first three games by a total of 13 points (including by 3 each to eventual AAC champion Houston and eventual ACC champion Clemson), the Cardinals closed the regular season having won seven of their last nine games. The Cardinals closed out the season with a 27-21 over Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl.

Miami Hurricanes

Final record: 8-5. After winning four of their first six games, a 58-0 loss to Clemson led to the firing of head coach Al Golden. Under interim coach Larry Scott, the Hurricanes won four of their last five regular season games before losing to Washington State 20-14 in the Sun Bowl.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Final record: 11-3. Larry Fedora’s fourth year at the helm was by far the most successful for the Tar Heels. After opening the season with a 17-13 loss to South Carolina, the Tar Heels their next 11 games, going undefeated in conference play before dropping the championship game to top-ranked Clemson. The Tar Heels closed the season with a 49-38 loss to Baylor.

North Carolina State Wolfpack

Final record: 7-6. After starting the season 4-0, the Wolfpack lost three of their next four games and five of their last eight regular season games, including a 45-34 loss to rival North Carolina. The Wolfpack finished on a losing note, dropping the Belk Bowl to Mississippi State 51-28.

Pittsburgh Panthers

Final record: 8-5. The Panthers won six of their first seven games and climbed into the rankings for two weeks before backto-back losses to North Carolina and Notre Dame. The Panthers won two of their last three regular season games before a 44-28 loss to Navy in the Military Bowl to close out the season.

Syracuse Orange

Final record: 4-8. After starting the season 3-0, the Orange went on an eight-game losing streak that cost head coach Scott Shafer his job. The Orange snapped their losing streak in their season finale with a 20-17 win over Boston College.

Virginia Cavaliers

Final record: 4-8. The Cavaliers started the season losing four of their first five games and never really recovered, going 3-4 over their final seven, including a season- ending 23-20 loss to Virginia Tech in the Battle for the Commonwealth Cup.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Final record: 7-6. After a four- overtime, 45-43 loss to Duke dropped the Hokies to 3-5, they reeled off three wins in their final four regular season games, including a 23-20 win over Virginia in the Battle for the Commonwealth Cup. The Hokies sent head coach Frank Beamer into retirement a winner, beating Tulsa 55-52 in the Independence Bowl.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Final record: 3-9. After a 41-3 season-opening win over FCS foe Elon, the Demon Deacons managed just two more wins in their final eleven games, finishing the season on a six-game losing streak that included a 27-21 loss to Duke in their season finale.