Predicted Order of Finish
*2023 Record in Parenthesis
*Rosters are Subject to Change
1. Clemson (9-4)
Good News- the Tigers return an abundance of talent on offense led by junior QB Cade Klubnik (2,844 yards, 19 TD’s) and senior LB Barrett Carter (62 tackles, 3.5 sacks) is back on defense
Bad News- HC Dabo Swinney’s reluctance to use the transfer portal could hinder the program moving forward
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 8.5
2. NC State (9-4)
Good News- the Wolfpack landed coveted senior transfer QB Grayson McCall after a decorated 4 years at Coastal Carolina
Bad News- NFL 3rd-round pick Payton Wilson must be replaced on defense while on special -teams sophomore Kanoah Vinesett will be the 3rd kicker in as many seasons
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 8.5
3. Florida St. (13-1)
Good News- HC Mike Norvell continues to utilize the transfer portal as well as anyone adding QB DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State), senior RB Roydell Williams (Alabama), and junior DE Marvin Jones Jr. (Georgia)
Bad News- Uiagalelei, a prized 5-star recruit out of high school, is 2-9 against ranked opponents
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 9.5
4. Louisville (10-4)
Good News- Jeff Brohm continues to elevate himself as one of the top coaches in nation leading the Cardinals to 10 wins and ACC title game appearance in his 1st year
Bad News- the offense must replace Jack Plummer at QB as well as its' top 2 running backs and receivers from last year
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 8.5
5. Miami (FL) (7-6)
Good News- senior transfer QB Cam Ward, who threw for 6,963 yards and 48 TD’s in 2 years at Washington State, will work alongside an experienced and talented receiving corps
Bad News- the Hurricanes must improve on their 1-4 mark in one score games last season
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 9.5
6. SMU (11-3)
Good News- the offense will once again be explosive returning 7 starters that includes junior Preston Stone (28 TD’s) and his top 2 targets in senior WR Jake Bailey and TE RJ Maryland
Bad News- the Mustangs went winless against power 5 schools last season (0-3) and will face a big step up in completion entering the ACC
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 8.5
7. Virginia Tech (7-6)
Good News- the Hokies return 17 starters from last year’s team that won 5 of its’ last 7 games after starting 2-4
Bad News- junior QB Kyron Drones must improve as a passer after competing under 60 percent of his passes and failing to reach 100 yards passing in two of his starts
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 8.5
8. California (6-7)
Good News- there is no shortage of playmakers on offense led by junior RB Jayden Ott (20 career rushing TD’s)
Bad News- the Bears’ defense, normally a strength under defensive-minded HC Justin Wilcox, has lost some bite the past 2 seasons
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 6.5
9. North Carolina (8-5)
Good News- senior transfer QB Max Johnson (Texas A&M) will compliment a formidable rushing attack led by junior RB Omarion Hampton (1,504 yards, 15 TD’s)
Bad News- the defense surrendered 30 points in 8 games last year and now turns to new DC Geoff Collins for answers
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 7.5
10. Georgia Tech (7-6)
Good News- the nation’s 12th-ranked rushing attack in 2023 returns all-ACC junior RB Jamal Haynes (1,059 yards, 7 TD’s)
Bad News- the Yellow Jackets will have to navigate through one of the nation’s toughest schedules beginning August 24 against FSU (Dublin)
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 4.5
11. Virginia (3-9)
Good News- the Cavaliers have 2 capable QB’s in senior Tony Muskett and sophomore Anthony Colandrea on offense along with plenty of experience in the front 7 on defense
Bad News- the offensive line surrendered 43 sacks in 2023 which ranked 123rd in the nation
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 4.5
12. Wake Forest (4-8)
Good News- senior transfer QB Hank Bachmeier (Louisiana Tech) brings his 8,663 career passing yards and 51 TD’s to Winston-Salem
Bad News- the Demon Deacons failed to score 20 points in 6 of the final 9 games last season en route to a 1-8 finish
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 4.5
13. Pittsburgh (3-9)
Good News- HC Pat Narduzzi turns to 31-year-old Kade Bell to kick start the Panthers anaemic offense after a successful stint as the offensive coordinator at Western Carolina
Bad News- the defense, which held its’ own last season despite the offensively struggles, returns just 2 starters
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 5.5
14. Duke (8-5)
Good News- the defense returns the top 3 tacklers from last year along with a reliable kicker in junior Todd Pelino (18/23)
Bad News- Manny Diaz is the Blue Devils 3rd Head Coach in 4 seasons and takes over a program that has just 1 winning season in conference play since 2015
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 5.5
15. Syracuse (6-7)
Good News- the addition of Ohio State senior transfer QB Kyle McCord (3,170 yards, 24 TD’s) along with a more than manageable schedule should bode well for 1st-year HC Fran Brown
Bad News- the Orange will rely on 4 transfers to strengthen the O-line which ranked 87th in sacks allowed a year ago
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 7.5
16. Boston College (7-6)
Good News- senior RB Kye Robichaux and junior QB Thomas Castellanos (1,893 combined rush yards last season) will lead a potent rushing attack on offense under new HC Bill O’Brien
Bad News- the Eagles' defensive front was abysmal in 2023 ranking 130th in sacks and 118th in rush yards allowed
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 4.5
17. Stanford (3-9)
Good News- with 9 starters returning including junior QB Aston Daniels the offense should make big strides under offensive-minded second year HC Troy Taylor
Bad News- the Cardinal defense was a sieve in 2023 rankings 129th in both points and yards allowed
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 3.5
Buy
Virginia (ACC)- The Cavaliers lost 5 games by 7 points or less last year. With plenty of experience returning on both sides of the ball this team has the potential to reach a bowl in HC Tony Elliott’s third season.
Wake Forest (ACC)- HC Dave Clawson had taken the Demon Deacons to 7 straight bowls before last year’s disappointing 4-8 season. Clawson has only posted consecutive losing records 3 times in 24 seasons as a HC and never after being at a school for over 3 years. Expect a rebound in 2024.
Sell
Duke (ACC)- New HC Manny Diaz compiled a pedestrian 21-15 record in 3 seasons at Miami from 2019-21. Winning at Duke is a much tougher task and with QB Riley Leonard off to Notre Dame the Blue Devils could dip below 500 in Diaz’s first season in Durham
Florida St. (ACC)- The Noles once again reloaded the roster with talent via the transfer portal. However, with only 10 returning starters on the roster and a new QB in Uiagalelei, who will be learning his third system in as many seasons, expect a drop off from last year's 13-1 mark
2023 FBS Statistical Rankings
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