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Best Quarterback in the ACC
ACC’s Quarterback Landscape
With the transfer portal becoming more commonplace, the starting quarterbacks in the ACC took full advantage. Seven schools, not including Notre Dame, who also had quarterback turnover, looked for changes through the transfer portal. That will shift some teams’ College Football odds heading into 2023.
The biggest name to transfer was Sam Hartman from Wake Forest. He was incredible in 2022, throwing for 3,701 yards and 38 touchdowns, with the second-best passing rating in the ACC. Hartman headlined College Football news by deciding to leave the Demon Deacons and join the Fighting Irish.
While that may not change the NCAA odds for the best quarterback in the ACC, with one name at the top of the list, it does lessen the competition.
Honorable Mentions
The player that could be the biggest riser up this list is Cade Klubnik from Clemson. It would take nearly the whole season till the coaching staff decided to start Klubnik, waiting until the Orange Bowl to do so. He did struggle, throwing 320 yards on 54 attempts, with touchdowns, and two interceptions.
However, the five-star recruit had shown enough at the end of the ACC Championship Game, passing for 279 yards and a touchdown, also rushing for 30 and a score, to earn his only start. In 2023, he will be allowed to show off his skills. Klubnik is someone to keep track of for scores and odds.
Two more names could be considered honorable mentions for the best quarterback in the ACC, Jordan Travis from Florida State and Riley Leonard out of Duke. While Travis may not be one of the more game-wrecking quarterbacks, he is the most consistent. He led the ACC in quarterback rating, 160.1, and was third in completion percentage, 64%, while only throwing five interceptions. Despite that, Travis would do more than enough with his arm, throwing for 3,214 yards with 24 touchdowns. On top of that, he led all ACC quarterbacks in yards per pass attempt at 9.1.
Leonard would have a good season passing the ball but would be known more for using his legs. He rushed for 699 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading ACC quarterbacks in both categories. His rushing ability had to be respected, which opened up the passing game, throwing for 2,967 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. On top of that, many of the key offensive players from 2022 will return after a 9-4 season, and a bowl game win.
Drake Maye Is the Top Name in the ACC
In his first season, being the starting quarterback for North Carolina, Drake Maye put not only the ACC but all of the NCAA football odds on notice. Maye would lead the ACC in passing yards, 4,321, throwing 38 touchdowns, tied for the most, with only seven interceptions. On top of that, he would have an impact running the ball, with 698 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
TOUCHDOWN TARHEELS
Drake Maye with ANOTHER beautiful TD pass for @UNCFootball 🎯 pic.twitter.com/h1vMCKg5hj
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 29, 2022
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Maye was a redshirt freshman, so there should be more improvement in his second full season. Vegas NFL odds have already put him in the top grouping of Heisman favorites. However, after a fantastic start to the season, the Tar Heels lost the final four games of 2022, mainly due to Maye struggling, only throwing four touchdowns, with four interceptions. Despite how he closed out the season, he is clearly still the top quarterback in the ACC.
Get ready for the kickoff of the season with the latest college football lines!
