What Each ACC Team Needs to do to Improve in 2023

Boston College

Run the Ball

Jeff Hafley’s squad vastly underperformed in 2022, going 3-9 and finishing last in the Atlantic after being a dark horse to win the division. The Eagles had many issues, but the biggest was they simply couldn’t run the football. Nationally they were last in rushing yards (759), yards per carry (2.1), and second to last in touchdowns (4). If Boston College can run more than 63.3 yards a game, they can be a better squad.

Nov 19, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Boston College Eagles head coach Jeff Hafley talks to his players in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium.

Clemson

Defeat Quality Teams Outside the ACC

The ACC Champions might have been a perfect 9-0 against conference competition, but were 0-3 against Power Five schools outside the conference. It’s one thing to be a big fish in a small pond, but if Clemson wants to continue to be a national power, they need to show it outside the ACC. With the Cade Klubnik era starting in 2023, let’s see if he can win those big games.

Oct 22, 2022; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) throws a pass during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina on Saturday, October 22, 2022.

Duke

Prove Legitimacy by Winning Important Games

Duke wasn’t expected to be competitive in Mike Elko’s first year, much less win nine games. But the Blue Devils accomplished just that for only the third time in the past eighty seasons in 2022. However, they couldn’t win their biggest games, falling to Pitt, North Carolina, and a then 3-0 Kansas. Duke’s 2023 schedule is much more difficult too: starting the season off against Clemson, then playing Notre Dame and Florida State. The Blue Devils need to win at least one of these big games to improve next year.

Sep 17, 2022; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils tight end Nicky Dalmolin (81) and wide receiver Eli Pancol (6) celebrate after a touchdown against the North Carolina A&T Aggies during the first half at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Florida State

Avoid Going Down Multiple Scores in Big Games

The Seminoles exceeded expectations in 2022 going 10-3. But against Wake Forest, Florida State went down 28-7, and couldn’t come back in a 31-21 loss. Two weeks later, the Seminoles were down 34-14 to Clemson and lost 34-28. Both games eventually were winnable, one-score contests that Florida State could have won if they hadn’t dug themselves into such a big hole earlier.

Dec 29, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis (13) drops back to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter during the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium.

Georgia Tech

Improve the Passing Game and Score More

After Brent Key took over Georgia Tech finally improved, going .500 with ranked road wins over North Carolina and Pittsburgh. This was all in spite of a horrible offense that scored the second-to-worst 17.2 points per game in the ACC, and a passing game that threw for the fewest yards in the conference at 192.2 yards per game. For Georgia Tech to improve and make their first bowl game since running the triple option, they have to have a better passing game and overall offense. They’ll need to break in a new quarterback after losing Jeff Sims to the transfer portal as well, adding an additional layer of difficulty.

Nov 26, 2022; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets interim head coach Brent Key on the sideline against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Sanford Stadium.

Louisville

Avoid Turnovers

The Cardinals had an under-the-radar 8-5 season led by an aggressive defense that allowed the 11th fewest points in the country (19.2) and led the country with fifty sacks. This is in spite of an offense that gave the football right back. Louisville turned the ball over 24 times, which was the third most in the ACC and fourteenth most in all of the FBS. Turnovers are something that every coach wants to avoid and nearly two turnovers a game are far too many. New coach Jeff Brohm’s Purdue team didn’t fare much better last season, turning the ball over 23 times themselves.

U of L Athletic Director Josh Heird, left, presented Jeff Brohm with a jersey after he was announced as the new head football coach at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 8, 2022.

Miami

Get Leaders on the Team

Miami didn’t have a 2,000-yard passer, 700-yard rusher, 600-yard receiver, or a defender with sixty tackles. Miami’s team stats ended up ranging between average to below average, but their solo stats were extremely lacking, like James Williams and Kamren Kinchens who co-led Miami in tackles yet finished 436th nationally. Couple that with a first-year head coach and it seems nobody could make this talented team (on paper) stick together.

Sep 17, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal talks with this team during a timeout during the second half of the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Miami Hurricanes at Kyle Field.

North Carolina

Improve the Overall Defense

Despite winning the nine games and the Coastal division, the Tar Heels’ defense was atrocious. Within the ACC, UNC finished last in yards allowed per game (438.2), points allowed per game (31.0), passing yards allowed per game (276.4), and twelfth in rushing yards allowed per game. It was outright embarrassing when teams like Appalachian State scored sixty-one points and FCS Florida A&M moved the football for 608 yards. Drake Maye and the offense can’t do it all for North Carolina to make it back to Charlotte.

Oct 29, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown runs on to the field before the game at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

North Carolina State

Improve the Overall Offense

The yin to UNC’s yang, North Carolina State had a tremendous defense held back by a poor offense. Devin Leary’s injury hurt the Wolfpack, but not as much as their rushing attack. Finishing third to last in the ACC with 113.8 rushing yards per game isn’t a recipe for success and neither is playing a full season without a 100-yard rusher. With the addition of new offensive coordinator Robert Anae and quarterback Brennan Armstrong headed to Raleigh the offense should improve for NC State next season.

Sep 10, 2022; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren (center) leads his team onto the field prior to a game against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Pittsburgh

Fix the Turnover Differential in Losses

Pittsburgh might of had an above-average +2 turnover differential across the season, but it didn’t show up in their losses. The positive number switches to a hard negative with a -7 turnover differential in Pitt’s four losses. Without the -3 margins against Georgia Tech and Louisville, Pittsburgh probably could have finished 10-2 with another trip to Charlotte.

Oct 1, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi reacts on the sidelines against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the fourth quarter Georgia Tech won 26-21 at Acrisure Stadium.

Syracuse

Become More Disciplined

The Orange might have surprised people by starting 6-0 but maybe they could have kept their momentum if not for costly penalties. Syracuse was tied for last in the country with 111 penalties for 819 yards. This included ten penalties for eighty-eight yards against Clemson and eighteen for 107 yards against Louisville. This high number also illustrates a lack of discipline which is even worse than the free yards given up.

Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Dino Babers reacts to a play against the Purdue Boilermakers in the third quarter at JMA Wireless Dome.

Virginia

Stop Giving up Sacks and Start Converting Third Downs

2022 will always be remembered for the tragedy on November 13th before the actual season. However, the sack rate and third-down percentage killed Virginia in the ten games that were played. The Cavaliers were sacked 3.4 times a game, the second-highest margin in the ACC. This set up long third downs which Virginia couldn’t convert, moving the chains 32.1% of the time for the third worst rate in the conference. This included an unacceptable 0-15 outing against Illinois, and 2-14 performance against Georgia Tech.

Sep 3, 2022; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott looks on from the sidelines during the second half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

Virginia Tech

Improve the Passing Offense

The Hokies under Brent Pry were horrible and so was their passing game. They only threw for the ACC’s 13th-best 203.3 yards per game and nine touchdown passes; while throwing an equal nine interceptions. Virginia Tech may not have had Hendon Hooker anymore but they need to at least become decent at throwing the ball to be better in 2023.

Oct 8, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Brent Pry looks on from the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh won 45-29.

Wake Forest

Improve the Overall Defense

North Carolina isn’t the only ACC school in the state that needs to improve defensively. While they weren’t as bad as the Tar Heels, the Demon Deacons have progress to make. Wake Forest allowed the ACC’s second-to-worst 410 yards of offense, 272.8 passing yards, and third-most 29.3 points per game. Those numbers have to improve for Wake Forest to compete without Sam Hartman.