The season is fast approaching and will be here in a little over two months. We have gotten a good look at teams during spring and can now start comparing and contrasting these teams. Let’s take a look at my power rankings for the ACC heading into 2023.
1. Florida State
I have the Seminoles slightly ahead of Clemson right now. I like the experience that Jordan Travis and I also like the other pieces they put around him, such as TE Jaheim Bell and WR Keon Coleman. Florida State is trending in the right direction, and this could be the season they break through. They have a huge game in week one vs LSU where we will really get to see what this team is made of.
2. Clemson
Clemson got a huge off-season win when they hired Garrett Riley away from TCU. He was sought after by many coaches but eventually landed at Clemson. I like this fit with him and Cade Klubnik and I think the offense will improve tremendously. You really could flip-flop them and Florida State, they are very close in terms of talent. I have them behind FSU mainly due to quarterback experience, but we will find out when they play in Death Valley on September 23rd.
3. North Carolina
North Carolina is coming off an ACC Championship appearance and a very stellar year from quarterback Drake Maye. A lot of people have Maye as the best QB in the country and the first taken in next year’s NFL Draft. The offense will continue to be very productive, but it’s the defense that needed improvement. If Gene Chizik can get them firing on all cylinders, UNC could be a top-ten team by the end of the season.
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4. Miami
I know what you’re probably thinking… Miami?? Yes, Miami. Tyler Van Dyke coming back was big for the Hurricanes, and Mario Cristobal has this program moving in the right direction. Their 2023 recruiting class was ranked in the top ten and they had 14 four-stars and two five-stars commit. A lot of South Florida kids are starting to buy back into that Miami football culture. I am intrigued to see how Miami does this season and I expect to see vast improvement.
5. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh was part of that ACC QB carousel that took place in the offseason. They got Phil Jurkovec from Boston College and he looks to fill in where Kedon Slovis left off. He looks to keep this Pitt team in the top half of the SEC, and even potentially battling for a conference championship spot. I like how their ACC schedule sets up, as they get North Carolina and Florida State at home. Pitt should be in for another seven-plus win season at least.
This is how the rest of my power rankings look…
6. North Carolina State
7. Louisville
8. Duke
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9. Wake Forest
10. Syracuse
11. Georgia Tech
12. Virginia
13. Boston College
14. Virginia Tech
