2025 ACC Season Preview
The 2025 college football season is rapidly approaching, with several fantastic games slated for Week 0 this season. Three teams from the ACC made the college football playoff last season, including a surprising late entrant into the sweepstakes. However, the conference as a whole did not live up to expectations, and all three fell in the first round. Can the ACC rebound in 2025 with one of the most talented teams in the nation? After a couple of years of strife, the ACC, along with Florida State and Clemson, has settled its differences in the courtroom. How long can the conference hold its constituents together? The 2025 season promises to be an interesting one for all 17 teams in the best of the non-Power Two conferences. Who will win the conference in this 2025 ACC Season Preview?
Boston College (5-7, 2-7)
Year two of the Bill O’Brien era begins for the Eagles, with some key players to replace from last season’s 7-5 team. BC has to replace three of its five offensive line starters from last year’s team and two impact defensive linemen. The offensive line loses draft picks Ozzy Trapilo (Bears) and Drew Kendall (Eagles). Defensively, EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku needs to be replaced, so it will be a collective effort between Quintayvious Hutchins and Edwin Kolenge. Offensively, the potentially explosive duo of quarterback Grayson James and receiver Lewis Bond should be helped by running backs Jordan McDonald and Turbo Richard.
The schedule sets up nicely to rack up early wins and pad the record against a brutal four-week stretch that includes games against Clemson, Louisville, and Notre Dame. November is a tricky month to navigate with dates against ND, SMU, Georgia Tech, and Syracuse. Bowl eligibility should be the target for BoB’s men in 2025.
Cal (5-7, 2-6)
The Golden Bears desperately need a winning season to stem the flow out of town. Head coach Justin Wilcox needs a winning season to save his job in Berkeley. There’s talent on the team, most of it is new to the program, thanks to a boatload of transfers out. Namely, starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) and running back Jayden Ott (Oklahoma). In their stead, Wilcox brought in former Ohio State passer Devin Brown and three new runners. The interior offensive line is new as well. The schedule is kind to Cal as it avoids the big hitters in the ACC and gets a soft opening in September with winnable games. Traveling to San Diego State and Chestnut Hill isn’t for the faint of heart, but it is manageable.
Cal’s defense has a monumental job ahead of it, trying to replace several contributors at once. NFL rookies like Nohl Williams, Craig Woodson, Teddye Buchanan, and Marcus Harris need replacing. Hezekiah Masses (FIU) will attempt to fill one cornerback slot while Harrison Taggart (BYU/Oregon) gets the job to replace Buchanan. If the Golden Bears can manage a hot start with 15 new projected starters out of 22, they have a real chance at bowl eligibility.
Clemson (9-3, 8-1)
The defending ACC champions return a veteran team led by one of the best quarterbacks in the class, Cade Klubnik and a passel of NFL defenders. A trio of talented receivers should carry the load as Bryant Wesco, Antonio Williams, and T.J. Moore are year older and wiser. Dabo’s defense is led by a duo that could be top ten selections next year in T.J. Parker and Peter Woods. Clemson actually made a foray into the transfer portal despite years of forgoing the roster building tool. Purdue’s Will Heldt and Alabama’s Jeremiah Alexander are expected to contribute in 2025. The Tigers have a showdown with LSU in the season opener but they should be favored to win every game the rest of the way.
November will be a key month as they face rival FSU and Louisville on short rest and the road date against rival South Carolina awaits. The 2024 ACC title game rematch against SMU looms large in October as well. Will they beat the odds and claim another conference title as predicted in this 2025 ACC season preview?
Duke (7-5, 4-4)
Year two of the Manny Diaz administration promises to be an interesting one with the change at quarterback. Darian Mensah burst onto the scene at Tulane in 2024 and transferred in. Former starter Maalik Murphy transferred to Oregon State after a respectable season last year. Duke loses receiver Jordan Moore, but Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma) and tight end Landen King (Auburn) should pick up the slack. The Blue Devils’ schedule is manageable overall, but games against Tulane, Illinois, and Syracuse loom large. Seven or eight wins should be their ceiling.
Florida State (6-6, 4-4)
A 2-10 season has put Mike Norvell into a serious firestorm of a hot seat, so he made some profound changes to his coaching staff. Gus Malzahn joins as the offensive coordinator after surprisingly resigning as UCF’s head coach. Tony White and former NFL player Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton join the staff from Nebraska as DC and DL coach, respectively. FSU has lost a significant amount of talent through the transfer portal and to the draft. Names like Josh Farmer and Azareye’h Thomas were drafted. To replace Hykeem Williams (Colorado) and Malik Benson (Oregon), they brought in Duce Robinson (USC) and Squirrel White (Tennessee). The offensive line has four new starters, including both tackles. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos transferred into the program in December, following Malzahn’s hiring.
FSU needs to get off to a hot start to climb back to relevance, and they have the early schedule to do it. September promises to be a winning month, but the opener against Alabama looms. November presents a challenging grind with three road games against blood rivals Clemson, NC State, and Florida. 2025 is all about regaining respect for the Seminoles. Can they do it and beat the odds of the 2025 ACC season preview?
Georgia Tech (6-6, 4-4)
Georgia Tech is a dark horse to compete for the ACC crown in 2025 if things break just right for the Yellow Jackets. They retained both of their Haynes backfield with quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes returning. Receiver Malik Rutherford returns as well, but Eric Singleton left for Auburn. To compensate for Singleton’s loss, Tech went to the portal to get productive FIU receiver Eric Rivers. Transfers Ronald Triplette (UTSA), Matthew Alexander (UCF), and AJ Hoffler (Clemson) should help fortify the defensive front. Linebackers EJ Lightsey and Kyle Efford return as the veteran leaders. The secondary is full of veterans like Ahmari Harvey and Clayton Powell-Lee.
The 2025 schedule features a well-balanced test for the Yellow Jackets, with two stern challenges in September and a tough closing kick in November. Interestingly, they close the season with the “Clean Ol’ Fashioned Hate” rivalry game against Georgia in Atlanta. Tech could eek out seven or eight wins with some luck.
Louisville (8-4, 4-4)
The Cardinals have had two consecutive transfer quarterbacks make a name for themselves before heading to the pros. Can USC transfer Miller Moss be the third under Jeff Brohm? Louisville lost its top two corners, Quincy Riley and Corey Thornton, to the pros. They replaced them with Rodney Johnson (Southern) and Justin Agu (Louisiana). Ashton Gillotte needs replacing as well. Offensively, they must replace receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, but do return Caulin Lacy as the leading man.
Brohm’s men have a relatively easy opening month but face a tricky game against James Madison. They face a rough November with consecutive dates against SMU, Clemson, and Kentucky. Louisville should be competitive in 2025. Eight wins should be the ceiling.
Miami (11-1, 8-1)
Mario Cristobal’s quest for an ACC title with his Hurricanes continues in 2025, featuring a similarly talented roster to last year’s team. The Canes must replace significant talent like Cam Ward, Xavier Restrepo, and Damien Martinez, among other notable draft picks. Defensively, Reuben Bain is the next star EDGE to take over for Simeon Barrow and Tyler Baron. Carson Beck was imported to South Beach at a hefty price to take over at quarterback after Ward ended up becoming the first overall selection. Receivers CJ Daniels (Liberty) and Tony Johnson (Cincinnati) will be expected to carry the load alongside incumbent Josaiah Trader.
The offensive line should be great again with Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa, and James Brockermeyer (TCU) trending towards being high draft selections. Defensively, four new starters take over from the portal after a dismal season on the back end. The most notable name is Xavier Lucas, who was involved in a transfer scandal after Wisconsin sued Miami for tampering. Miami’s schedule is conducive to its first ACC title, with Notre Dame and Florida coming to Coral Gables. They don’t leave the state of Florida until November and avoid conference heavyweight Clemson.
NC State (5-7, 3-7)
The Wolfpack are annual contenders in the ACC under Dave Doeren. Can they make the final push into true title contention in 2025? QB C.J. Bailey returns for another go-around with another year of experience. The receiver room returns intact, minus Kevin Concepcion, who transferred to A&M. The offensive line loses standout tackle Anthony Belton to the pros but returns Jacarrius Peak in his stead. TE Justin Joly returns as well, so the weapons aren’t barren for Bailey. Defensively, there are three new projected starters, namely Brian Nelson II (UNT) and Tra Thomas (Temple).
NC State needs to pile up the wins early in the season because November is notoriously challenging with games against Georgia Tech, Florida State, Miami, and rival North Carolina. The Pack has a chance to compete in the upper echelon of the ACC but will likely fight for a bowl.
North Carolina (7-5, 5-3)
UNC made one of the more interesting hires of the past several years when it hired Bill Belichick from the unemployed line. He has been in the offseason news cycle for a myriad of reasons as a result, but it’s time to get back to business. Like with many coaching changes, the roster has undergone a massive scale of turnover. Quarterback Gio Lopez enters the fray after a productive career at South Alabama. He’ll compete with Max Johnson, who was injured for the majority of last season. Two receivers return, including Kobe Paysour, but a transfer from Michigan State, Aziah Johnson, could play a huge role. Davion Gause gets the first look at replacing star running back Omarion Hampton, who’s off to the Chargers.
UNC experienced a significant turnover on defense, with ten new projected starters under new DC Steve Belichick. Cornerback Thaddeus Dixon (Washington) and EDGE Pryce Yates (UCONN) will need to step up as replacements for NFL talents Alijah Huzzie and Kaimon Rucker. Schedule-wise, it sets up nicely for the Heels for the second half of the season after a rough first half that features dates against UCF, TCU, and Clemson. The NFL’s GOAT head coach should have UNC fighting for seven wins in his debut campaign.
Pitt (6-6, 4-5)
Coach Pat Narduzzi enters a critical inflection point for his future career prospects in the Steel City. He returns an intriguing talent at quarterback, Eli Holstein, who dazzled when he was healthy. The Panthers do have to replace two key weapons, however, as Konata Mumpfield and Gavin Bartholemew are in the NFL. Kenny Johnson is the projected top dog in the receiver room in 2025. Pitt returns a veteran defense with only one new projected starter, so Narduzzi can rely on his bread and butter unit.
Schedule-wise, they hardly get a break with five consecutive games against ACC contenders. Road games against FSU and Syracuse, along with hosting NC State, will be a key stretch. November is a challenging part of the schedule, with hosting Notre Dame and Miami and a road date against GT looming. Bowl eligibility would be an accomplishment with the brutal schedule.
SMU (9-3, 7-1)
The Mustangs made a strong first impression in their debut ACC campaign, reaching the ACC title game and the College Football Playoff. What does Rhett Lashlee have in store for an encore in 2025? Quarterback Kevin Jennings returns to lead the Mustangs after losing dynamic running back Brashard Smith to the NFL. Receiver Jordan Hudson should be the lead receiver. The offensive line features two transfers: Joshua Bates (Oklahoma) and Addison Nichols (Arkansas). Defensively, SMU loses a pair of defensive ends like Elijah Roberts and Jared Harrison-Hunte. The Mustangs retain a talented defense that features cornerback Deuce Harmon, EDGE Isaiah Smith, and safety Ahmaad Moses.
SMU has a great chance to repeat its feat with a manageable schedule that features two dangerous road games against TCU and Clemson. November will be tough with dates against Miami and Louisville looming. Pencil the ponies for nine or ten wins in 2025.
Stanford (3-9, 1-8)
Stanford is undergoing an interesting transition season after former head coach Troy Taylor received his walking papers for mistreating staff. Frank Reich steps in to pick up the pieces under GM Andrew Luck. It will be a long season once again for Stanford, who are talent-deprived after years of mass exodus. The schedule isn’t kind for bowl eligibility, either, with a tough October featuring games against SMU, FSU, and Miami. They have to win out in September to have any hope of competing for a bowl.
Syracuse (6-6, 4-5)
The Orange landed a superstar head coach in the making with Fran Brown, who led Syracuse to a nine-win season in 2024. Brown led a magical turnaround, but he will have to replace a ton of talent in 2025. NFL talents like EDGE Fadil Diggs, QB Kyle McCord, RB LeQuint Allen, and LB Justin Barron. The quarterback race dramatically took a turn when Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli entered the picture late. LSU transfer Rickie Collins was all set to become the starter until Angeli’s appearance. The offensive line returns intact but needs more seasoning. Defensively, they should be stout once again with transfers like EDGE David Reese (Cal) to complement safety Duce Chestnut and linebacker Derek McDonald.
Syracuse won’t sneak up on anyone and has one of the most demanding schedules in the nation. A schedule that features Tennessee in the opener, along with road games against Clemson, SMU, Miami, and Notre Dame. October will need to be a winning month to secure bowl eligibility in this 2025 ACC season preview.
Virginia (4-8, 2-7)
The Wahoos are in line for another struggle for bowl eligibility under Tony Elliott, which might not bode well for his future employment in Charlottesville. However, the schedule is easy enough with early opportunities to collect wins against William & Mary, Coastal Carolina, and Stanford. Virginia brought in former TCU and North Texas transfer Chandler Morris for one last hurrah. Two graduate transfers will bookend the offensive line with David Wohlabaugh, Jr (Syracuse) and Wallace Unamba (New Mexico). Defensively, the secondary will be anchored by Devin Neal (Louisville) and Kenan Johnson (Utah). Bowl eligibility should be the minimum expectation for Virginia in the 2025 ACC season preview, but there’s potential for more if the schedule breaks right.
Virginia Tech (6-6, 4-4)
2025 could be Brent Pry’s make-or-break season as he hasn’t elevated the program back to its winning ways under the last vestiges of the Frank Beamer regime. There’s plenty of talent in Blacksburg, and the schedule is relatively manageable; however, it includes some challenging games to contend with. As QB Kyron Drones goes, so does the Hokies offense. Virginia Tech does have to replace a trio of big-time weapons in Senior Bowl standouts Bhayshul Tuten, Jaylin Lane, and Da’Quan Felton. Defensively, the Hokies are seeking replacements for Aeneas Peebles, Dorian Strong, and Antwuan Powell-Ryland, as they battle for jobs in the league. The offensive line gained a solid transfer in Tomas Rimac. Virginia Tech also landed a pair of transfer receivers who expect to contribute immediately, in Donovan Greene (Wake Forest) and Cameron Seldon (Tennessee).
The Hokies’ defense will be up to its usual tricks as a lot of talent returns, led by cornerback Dante Lovett and linebacker Jaden Keller. Portal additions like EDGE Ben Bell (Texas State) and corner Isaiah Brown-Murray (ECU) should contribute. November will present a daunting challenge with dates against Louisville, Florida State, and Miami. If they can stack wins in September, eight wins isn’t out of the question in this 2025 ACC season preview.
Wake Forest (7-5, 3-5)
The Demon Deacons chose Jake Dickert as their new head coach, with Dave Clawson retiring after the 2024 season. Dickert coached Washington State through the Pac-12’s evisceration due to realignment, the transfer portal, and NIL. He’s a good leader of men and is a proven coach who can build at the lower levels of college football. He steps into a much more challenging landscape filled with more sharks as a small minnow. Clawson didn’t leave the cupboard bare, so there is some hope for Dickert. The offensive line is breaking in four projected starters, including standout Wazzu transfer offensive tackle Fa’alli Fa’amoe.
Dickert’s quarterback situation is worth monitoring, as he has brought in two veteran transfers, Robby Ashford (South Carolina) and Deshawn Purdie (Charlotte). Purdie is the better passer, while Ashford is a talented runner. Defensively, the Deacs return more starters than the offense in 2025. Veterans like linebacker Dylan Hazen, safety Nick Andersen, and EDGE BJ Williams will ease the transition for the new guys. Linebacker Quincy Bryant is also a name to watch defensively. Wake Forest’s schedule isn’t too demanding with nonconference dates against Kennesaw State, Western Carolina, Oregon State, and Delaware. The platform for bowl eligibility is sitting there for the Demon Deacons.
ACC Championship: Clemson vs. Miami
Champion: Clemson
Joseph is a veteran writer of many publications past and present. He is a long-time Tennessee Titans fan and draft scout/analyst, along with writing about the league is a passion project. Mr. Yun has been credentialed to the Senior Bowl multiple times. Readers will find he brings the juice with a scout’s eye and analytical mind. Follow me on Twitter @2Yoon2ZeroBlitz for more good stuff!