By Jordan Hansen
Part six of The Daily Iowan’s conference previews: the ACC
1) Clemson
If there’s a team with the talent to upend Alabama this year, it’s the Tigers. Led by Deshaun Watson, the best quarterback in the country, this team is absolutely a playoff contender. The Tigers have gotten over the mental hurdle of choking in big games, and they gave an all-time Crimson Tide team last year everything they had. There was room to improve in the off-season, and it seems they did. That’s dangerous not only for the rest of the ACC but the nation as a whole.
2) Florida State
It’s rather impressive what head coach Jimbo Fisher has managed to accomplish after taking over for the legendary Bobby Bowden following the 2009 season. One national title, a 4-2 bowl record, and only one single-digit victory season (2011). Once again, he has the team set up for success. A deep offensive line will block for Dalvin Cook, one of the best running backs in the country and if Florida State can find a consistent quarterback, it will give Dabo Swinney’s Clemson team a run for its money.
3) Louisville
After an 0-3 start to the season, the third year of the second Bobby Petrino era wasn’t exactly looking pretty. However, the Cardinals only lost two games the rest of the season and beat Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl. Now, the team returns a good amount of talent and should be a force in the league.
4) Pittsburgh
When Mark Dantonio disciple Pat Narduzzi took over the Panthers, it was expected he would bring the same type of physical defense that has taken Michigan State into the big time. He followed through, and Pittsburgh made noticeable strides last year. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd will be missed, but this is a program clearly on the rise.
5) Virginia Tech
This is where the ACC starts getting difficult to predict. On one hand, Frank Beamer is now retired, handing the reins over to former Memphis coach Justin Fuente. Will the Hokies struggle during the coaching transition? Only time will tell.
6) Miami
Hiring Mark Richt was a good move by a program that has made some questionable ones over the last few years. Miami fans wanted a proven winner, and they got that with the former Georgia coach. It might take a year or two, but the Hurricanes should return to something resembling their former glory soon.
7) North Carolina
Making it all the way to the ACC Championship last season was a huge accomplishment for the Tarheels, but they lost a bit from last year’s team. They’ll have to find a new quarterback with Marquise Williams’ graduation. There’s plenty of room for movement here, but they’ll have to prove last year wasn’t a fluke.
8) Georgia Tech
Injuries make life completely miserable. Following an 11-3 record in 2014, expectations were high in 2015. Three wins and nine losses later, this season will be a question mark. The Yellow Jackets will field a team with some talent but probably not enough to consistently compete with the better teams in the conference.
9) North Carolina State
The Wolfpack won every game it was supposed to last season and lost every one in which it was the underdog. A tough schedule didn’t exactly help matters, but that’s part of the deal in the ACC. Expect more of the same this year.
10) Duke
Losing four of your last six games is far from ideal, but when the two wins are the final two, it shows a bit of toughness, if nothing else. A bowl win and an 8-5 record is far from terrible, especially from a program known primarily as a basketball school.
11) Boston College
It was hard to find a better defense last year, but coupled with a truly awful offense, the Eagles only managed three wins. Somehow, they managed to lose games 14-0, 9-7, and 3-0. Those are baseball scores (well, the first two Red Sox scores). The offense will be better this year, but losing its defensive coordinator won’t help matters.
12) Syracuse
The Orange bring back a good chunk of their team and will absolutely be better than last year’s better-than-its-record-indicated 4-8 squad. They’re still a bit from regular contention, but things are headed in the right direction.
13) Virginia
This team might be a bit low here, but I want to see how well former BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall handles the ACC before putting the Cavaliers up higher. That said, of all the teams on this list, Virginia might be the one to jump up the highest this year.
14) Wake Forest
Top-to-basement, the ACC is one of the best conferences in the nation. Wake Forest did not have a good season last year, going 3-9, but it was competitive in all but a few games against the very best in the conference. Improvement and growth should be expected.