When the University of Miami joined the Atlantic Coast Conference, analysts believed that the Hurricanes would become the dominant program in the league. But for more than a decade, two brands have won nearly every conference crown: the Florida State Seminoles and Clemson Tigers.
Entering the 2024 regular season, those three programs remain the hands-down favorites to claim this year’s crown. Can another set of birds join this flock as ACC Conference Championship favorites? We’ll cover our top four bets to win the ACC title this season, including a dark horse contender who nearly won last season.
What might have been? That’s the sentiment – and perhaps the motivation – for the Seminoles to do their best Cody Rhodes impersonation and “finish the story” this season after the Bowl Selection Committee kept them out of the NCAA Playoffs in 2023. To do that, FSU will have to replace 15 starters this year, including nine who were selected in the NFL Draft this past April.
Offensively, the Seminoles retained the bulk of their linemen who helped FSU lead the league in rushing yards last season. Tight end Kyle Morlock returns, and the pass-catcher could become D.J. Uiagalele’s top target after the former Clemson signal-caller earned the starting job for the Seminoles earlier this week.
Defensively, FSU is stronger with the returning defensive linemen leading the way. Joshua Farmer and Patrick Payton will be high on draft boards next year, and defensive backs Fentrell Cypress II and Shyheim Brown are a dominant duo who will have a strong year.
Florida State’s schedule is perhaps the hardest of all four contenders. The Seminoles will host Clemson this season, but road trips to Miami and SMU could be problematic for the favorites to win the ACC. FSU also hosts North Carolina late in the season, another potentially hazardous game for the Seminoles.
Prediction: This is the team to beat in the ACC. Expect the Seminoles to reach the 10-win plateau this season en route to the College Football Playoffs.
Clemson has won eight ACC crowns under Dabo Swinney, and a ninth championship is possible in 2024. Offensively, the Tigers return eight starters from a season ago while getting back a host of defensive help from last year’s elite defense.
Cade Klubnik returns this season to pilot the Clemson offense. The 6-foot-2 signal caller will be a junior this season, and the weapons surrounding him are among the best in the country, especially at the tight end position. The biggest absence will be at running back as Will Shipley shipped off to the NFL after last season.
Defensively, the Tigers should rank among the best in the nation again this season. Linebacker Barrett Carter should lead a strong middle interior group while safety R.J. Mickens is a candidate to hear his name called on the first night of the 2025 NFL draft.
The Tigers open the ACC slate against NC State (ranked No. 24) at home on September 21 before traveling to Tallahassee to face the Seminoles. The final three ACC games could decide their fate as Louisville comes to town on Nov. 2 before Clemson hits the road for tricky games at Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh in consecutive weeks.
Prediction: Georgia is the season-opener for the Tigers. While typically getting to nine wins is a given, we’ll take the under on this prop bet. Expect Clemson to finish outside the ACC Championship window.
When Miami joined the ACC in 2004, the Hurricanes were supposed to dominate the league much like Florida State had in the 1990s. Yet in 20 seasons, the Hurricanes have only made one championship contest, a 2017 defeat to Clemson. Perhaps Mario Cristobal – who is in his third season at his alma mater – can finally turn the tide in 2024.
Several new players will don Hurricane jerseys this season on the offensive side. After leading Washington State for two seasons, quarterback Cam Ward is taking his 65 percent career completion percentage to Miami to lead Cristobal’s offense.
He’ll have multiple threats who – like him – transferred to the school this season in running back Damien Martinez and wide receiver Sam Brown. The offensive line also returned three starters from a season ago, giving Cristobal perhaps his best offense to date.
Outside of the season-opening nonconference trip to Gainesville, Miami has perhaps the easiest schedule of any of the contenders for the ACC crown. The Hurricanes host two of their toughest games this year – Virginia Tech (Sept. 27) and Florida State (Oct. 26) – and only face a strong test against Louisville (Oct. 19) on the road.
Prediction: The defense has some nice pieces, especially defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. If the defense can be competent, this team should eclipse their 9.5 win benchmark.
Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm nearly pulled off the unthinkable last season, taking the Cardinals to the title game before falling 16-6 to Florida State in his first season back in Kentucky. Now, Brohm will try to do it again with a ton of returning talent this year and the top-ranked class from the transfer portal according to on3.
The Cardinals’ defense is stacked with defensive linemen Ashton Gillotte and Dezmond Tell leading the charge. In the backfield, Quincy Riley leads a crop of strong defenders who look to take Louisville back to the championship game this season.
Offensively, the Cardinals must replace Jake Plummer’s production from a season ago. Texas Tech transfer Tyler Shough – a seventh-year quarterback – will get the first crack to lead Brohm’s high-octane offense this season.
The schedule sets up nicely for the Cardinals this season. Louisville has one conference road test – Nov. 2 at Clemson – and will host the other tough ACC games on their slate: SMU on Oct. 5, and Miami on Oct. 19.
Prediction: I believe Louisville will make a repeat run to the ACC Championship contest. Can the Cardinals pull off the upset over Miami or Florida State? It’s perhaps in the cards for the Cards.
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