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The most befuddled, discontented conference in all of college football is the ACC. While most of the other conferences in the sport were getting questions asked about quarterback competitions and transfer acquisitions this spring, schools like Clemson and Florida State football were being asked how and when they could dismiss themselves. At least for now, all parties are staying put.
Like the rest of what has now become the Power Four conferences, the ACC has taken on a facelift of sorts. In hopes of staying trendy and relevant in college football, the ACC added Cal, Stanford and SMU as members for the 2024 season, expanding the conference to an uneven 17 teams — which feels all too fitting for the sport's most dysfunctional conference. Those were basically the remaining scraps after the other conferences scooped up the higher quality meats.
Nevertheless, this is still a power conference and one that still has a number of teams that could make some noise in the upcoming season. So, now let's give out our 2024 ACC post-spring power rankings.
1. Florida State
There's a lot to like about this year's Florida State football team, but there's also a lot to be concerned about. This year's team is set to look much different than last after suffering the losses of major starters like Jordan Travis and Keon Coleman, among others. Both of those guys were big transfers for Mike Norvell that nearly got the Seminoles into the College Football Playoff last year.
Norvell has yet again turned to the transfer portal to put together what could be another impressive class this season, that will include quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr. With recent success in both the win column and transfers, this gives Florida State football the edge as the No. 1 team in the 2024 ACC post-spring power rankings.
2. Miami
This may be too high for the Miami (FL) football team, as most have them at third in the conference, like ESPN's FPI ratings. But the ACC is now led by three teams, with Miami football looking to make a massive jump in 2024. Since these ACC power rankings are based on post-spring analysis, it's the Hurricanes' impressive use of the transfer portal that slides them in at No. 2. Mario Cristobal brought two of the portal's most highly sought after players in quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez.
That's just to name the most notable. Cristobal also rebuilt most of their defensive front through the portal. The thing for Miami now is just putting this all together, which is something the program hasn't been able to do in over 20 years. Miami could very well be in the ACC title game and a dark horse to get into the College Football Playoff. They just have to get past their toughest enemy: themselves.
3. Clemson
When you're talking about the ACC, most have the race for the conference title coming down to Florida State and Clemson. That's understandable since the Tigers have dominated the conference, winning seven out of the last nine title games. The Tigers, however, took quite a step backwards last season, failing to meet anywhere close to their normal standards over the last decade under head coach Dabo Swinney. Then again, most are pointing to Swinney as the problem.
Swinney's unwillingness to comply with the current landscape of college football has most in fear that it's setting the program back. His refusal to use the transfer portal is at the forefront of that. Add on top of that the fact that the Tigers have yet to figure out how to replace Trevor Lawrence and what used to be an endless crop of talented receivers, and this team doesn't resemble any of the Clemson football teams of just a few seasons ago. This is still a top team in the ACC, but falling to under double-digit wins for the first time since 2010 last year was eye-opening.
4. NC State
The Wolfpack just keep quietly rattling off eight and nine-win seasons and everyone just looks elsewhere. Don't be surprised if that happens again this season and maybe a win or two more in there. Dave Doeren did what few coaches in the country were able to do and keep most of his team intact for the upcoming season, while also adding notable transfers. None are bigger, though, than Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall. Look for him to make a big difference in NC State's offense this season.
5. Louisville
Jeff Brohm had an impressive first season at his alma mater, getting the Cardinals all the way to the ACC Championship. Brohm was able to flip his roster through the transfer portal last season and has done it again with the 11th ranked transfer class in the country, per 247Sports. But the portal gives and the portal takes. Losses of running back Penny Boone and linebacker Tyler Baron are considerable losses.
6. SMU
One of the newcomers to the ACC this season will be SMU. The Mustangs are coming off a season of winning the AAC Championship. Meanwhile, Rhett Lashlee, who is familiar with the ACC from when he was offensive coordinator for Miami, is making his way up as one of the better coaches in the country. Lashlee has the luxury of bringing back his starting quarterback in Preston Stone, who was one of the better passers in the country last year. Stone will be just one of 14 starters returning.
7. Virginia Tech
Don't look now, but the Hokies could be making their way back to the top of the ACC. For now, we're going to give them the No. 7 spot in the ACC post-spring power rankings, though. Brent Pry took Virginia Tech from 3-8 in his first season in Blacksburg to 7-6 last year, winning five out of their last seven games. Quarterback Kyron Drones also looks to be the real deal. Add another year of his progression on top of a lot of returning starters from last year, and the Hokies could upset some people.
8. Georgia Tech
There's rebuilds and then there's Georgia Tech's rebuild after Paul Johnson and his triple-option system. Johnson has been gone since 2019, but putting together a roster opposite of his philosophy was never going to be easy for any head coach that followed him. Geoff Collins couldn't do it in three seasons, winning no more than three games in a season. Brent Key, however, stepping in as interim in 2022 won four games, then followed it up with seven wins in his first full year last season.
Last year's Yellow Jackets upset some folks and kept some games closer than many would have liked, such as against Georgia. If they want to improve from their seven-game win total, they had better hope their defense is much improved from its 120th ranked total defense from last season.
9. North Carolina
With much reluctancy, North Carolina comes in inside the top 10 of these ACC power rankings. But that's hardly reason to truly believe in the Tar Heels. Why? Because every time this team is placed with any sort of high expectations, they quickly tumble. Those expectations are justifiably tempered for the 2024 season, after not only a rather disappointing 8-5 year but also the losses of quarterback Drake Maye and wide receiver Devontez Walker.
Maye's loss specifically leaves the quarterback situation unsettled in Chapel Hill. Another problem will be fixing a defense that allowed 27.3 points per game. Mack Brown has his work cut out for him again.
10. Syracuse
Fran Brown was a surprising pick to be Syracuse's next head coach. But his impressive recruiting abilities earned him the job to which he's quickly made great strides in. Granted, we'll have to see how he performs on game days, but his impressive work in the portal can't go unnoticed. One of those transfer additions was former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord.
11. California
A Pacific coast team in the Atlantic Coast Conference still doesn't make any sense, but nevertheless, the Bears are an ACC member. Coming in with them will be talented running back Jaydn Ott, who is one of the best in the country. He's really the only true certainty on offense as everything else is rather unsettled and left for new offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch to figure out. But this team won't be putting together wins if they don't shore up their defense that gave up 37.8 points per game last season.
12. Boston College
Bringing in Bill O'Brien as new head coach gives the Eagles a lot of intrigue. He'll now bring his NFL expertise back to college football in hopes of helping what was the 108th passing offense in the country last year. Likewise, the Eagles defense will need to do better than allowing 28.3 points per game.
13. Pitt
After going 20-7 from 2021-2022, the Panthers posted a 3-9 record last season, which is the worst in the Pat Narduzzi era. Who knows how much better it will get in 2024, but at least Narduzzi had the wherewithal to basically start from scratch, bringing in new schemes and approaches. However, Pitt lost some key players from the transfer portal this spring, like defensive lineman Dayon Hayes.
14. Duke
Manny Diaz is back in the ACC and as a head coach again. This time he's in Durham to coach the Blue Devils. The weight of expectations is likely a lot different at Duke than it was at Miami, Diaz's previous head coaching stint. Diaz will bring his usual aggressive defensive approach to what was a strong defensive team the last two years. Even with some missing pieces from last year, there's still some to work with here for the new head coach. And on the offensive side, Texas transfer Maalik Murphy brings a lot of intrigue and upside.
15. Wake Forest
Dave Clawson and his Demon Deacons will be looking for a bounce back season after not going to a bowl game last year, going 4-8. Clawson is hoping that Louisiana Tech/Boise State transfer Hank Bachmeier in his sixth year of play will be able to improve the quarterback play from last season to at least make Wake Forest bowl eligible.
16. Stanford
The second west coast team to join the east coast conference is Stanford, which has won no more than four games in a season over the last five years. You could, therefore, argue this team deserves to be dead last in these ACC post-spring power rankings. However, this will be Year two for head coach Troy Taylor, who went 30-8 at FCS Sacramento State. And at the very least will have one of the better receivers in the conference in Elic Ayomanor.
17. Virginia
It's been a sad few years for the Cavaliers football team, which goes beyond the game. That's likely been part of the cause of their just six wins they've accrued over the last two years. The emphasis on this season for Virginia and Tony Elliot will be that of growth. Part of that will come from determining who their signal caller will be between Tony Muskett and Anthony Colandrea.
