Anybody who predicted that Wake Forest and Pittsburgh would meet in the 2021 ACC title game made some serious cash. Clemson is once again expected to rule the ACC and be a major player on the national scene.
There were some coaching moves with Mario Cristobal leaving Oregon to take over at Miami while former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott is now the head coach at Virginia. Brent Pry and Mike Elko are the head coaches at Virginia Tech and Duke.
Here’s a look at how the NCAAF lines see the ACC race at the current time.
Clemson Tigers
- 2021 record: 10-3
- 2021 conference record: 6-2
- Head coach: Dabo Swinney
- Odds to win conference title: -150
The Tigers had the best defense in the ACC a season ago and there are enough returning players for this to be a top unit once again. Having the highly touted Bryan Breese for more than four games should be a huge help while Trenton Simpson looks to continue to be a disruptive force as a pass rusher.
Most QB hits in a season by a Clemson defender since 2016
🐅 Trenton Simpson (’21): 13
🐅 Clelin Ferrell (’17): 12
🐅 Clelin Ferrell (’16): 12 pic.twitter.com/KoUNH9czgo— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 7, 2022
The offense is where Clemson needs to improve. Quarterback D.J. Ulagalelei is expected to have more of an impact after a difficult 2021 season when he had nine touchdown passes and 10 interceptions in 13 games.
Clemson’s depth at receiver took a bit of a hit with the transfers of Ajou Ajou and Frank Ladson. Running backs Lyn-J Dixon and Michel Dukes landed at West Virginia and South Florida. Safety Joseph Charleston and linebacker Kane Patterson are among defensive players who headed elsewhere.
Hunter Johnson transferred in from Northwestern to add some depth at the quarterback position.
The Las Vegas odds lists Clemson as having the fourth-best odds to win the national title in 2022.
Miami Hurricanes
- 2021 record: 7-5
- 2021 conference record: 5-3
- Head coach: Mario Cristobal
- Odds to win conference title: +550
A relative unknown when the 2021 season started, Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is tied for fourth in the odds to win the Heisman Trophy according to those who make college football predictions.
Eleven of the 16 players to catch passes for Miami in 2021 were freshmen so there will be plenty of familiar faces for Van Dyke to throw to. Miami returns many of its top running backs as well as many of the top tacklers as well.
Miami added former UCLA linebackers Caleb Johnson and Mitchell Agude, who combined for 99 tackles last season, UAB defensive lineman Antonio Moultrie, Maryland defensive lineman Darrell Jackson, USC defensive lineman Jacob Lichenstein, West Virginia defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor and cornerback Daryl Porter.
On offense, Cristobal brought a pair of former Oregon offensive linemen Logan Sagapolu and Jonathan Dennis to Coral Gables as well as Ole Miss running back Henry Parrish and Clemson receiver Frank Ladson.
There were quite a few outgoing transfers as well including running back Cody Brown and defensive lineman Nesta Jade Silvera.
North Carolina State Wolfpack
- 2021 record: 9-3
- 2021 conference record: 6-2
- Head coach: Dave Doeren
- Odds to win conference title: +800
The top rusher and receiver last season were sophomores while five freshmen and four sophomores were among the top 16 tacklers on the 2021 squad.
The offense could be aided by the arrival of former Maryland receiver Darryl Jones.
Defensive ends Ibrahim Kante and Terrell Dawkins are among five defensive players to hit the transfer portal. All-American offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu was a first-round pick in last month’s NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Panthers
- 2021 record: 11-3
- 2021 conference record: 7-1
- Head coach: Pat Narduzzi
- Odds to win conference title: +1200
Former USC quarterback Kedon Slovis will be running the offense in 2022 and he could be throwing to Jerrod Means who averaged nearly 20 yards per reception a season ago for Louisiana Tech. That should ease some of the pain as quarterback Kenny Pickett is now a member of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Panthers had more than three times as many players transfer out as they did come in via transfer. The biggest loss is All-American receiver Jordan Addison. Two quarterbacks left the program after the highly touted Slovis entered the picture.
There will be some holes to fill on defense but there is enough returning talent for Pittsburgh to be in the title picture once again.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- 2021 record: 11-3
- 2021 conference record: 7-1
- Head coach: Dave Clawson
- Odds to win conference title: +1600
It was quite the 2021 season for Wake Forest as the Demon Deacons won the division title and reached the ACC title game. Quarterback Sam Hartman had a year to remember with 4228 passing yards, 39 touchdown passes and just 14 interceptions. Many of his top receivers are back as well.
Nine freshmen had at least 10 tackles last season so their continued growth should help the defense improve.
Leading rusher Christian Beal-Smith is now at South Carolina while fellow running back Ahmani Marshall also transferred.
The Demon Deacons did add Georgia Southern’s second-leading tackler Eldrick Robinson. Former Richmond defensive lineman Kobie Turner is another key addition.
North Carolina
- 2021 record: 6-7
- 2021 conference record: 3-5
- Head coach: Mack Brown
- Odds to win conference title: +2200
Quarterback Sam Howell and running back Ty Chandler are in the NFL now so some new offensive playmakers will need to emerge. Josh Downs returns after catching 101 passes during the 2021 season.
Five of the top 11 tacklers a season ago were sophomores including leading tackler Cedric Gray. North Carolina ranked near the bottom of the ACC in scoring defense and total defense so there will need to be signs of growth on that side of the ball.
Harvard offensive lineman Spencer Rolland, Miami offensive lineman Corey Gaynor, cornerback Lejond Cavazor and defensive lineman Jacolbe Cowan, both from Ohio State and Virginia linebacker Noah Taylor joined the program.
Virginia Cavaliers
- 2021 record: 6-6
- 2021 conference record: 4-4
- Head coach: Tony Elliott
- Odds to win conference title: +2200
Quarterback Brennan Armstrong threw for nearly 4,500 yards during 2021. He threw for 31 touchdowns and ran for nine others. Top receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Keytaon Thompson are back to be on the receiving end of Armstrong’s passes once again. There are some losses on defense for Virginia to deal with.
Former Miami running back Cody Brown, Miami (Ohio) defensive end Kameron Butler, Stanford defensive end Andres Fox and Georgetown offensive lineman Mac Hollensteiner are among the players transferring in.
Florida State Seminoles
- 2021 record: 5-7
- 2021 conference record: 4-4
- Head coach: Mike Norvell
- Odds to win conference title: +3000
The Seminoles brought in UCF’s leading tackler Tatum Bethune while Greedy Vance had 36 tackles and seven pass breakups during the 2021 season at Louisville and he should strengthen the Florida State secondary. Keep an eye on former Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse who came to FSU from Albany.
On offense, West Virginia’s leading receiver Winston Wright is one of the additions through the transfer portal. Charlotte offensive tackle Dmitri Emmanuel, Oregon running back Trey Benson and receiver Mycah Pittman arrived in Tallahassee while receivers Deuce Spann and Johnny Wilson came to Florida State from Illinois and Arizona State.
Eighteen of the top 22 tacklers a season ago were either freshmen or sophomores so the defense should be fine.
Boston College Eagles
- 2021 record: 6-6
- 2021 conference record: 2-6
- Head coach: Jeff Hafley
- Odds to win conference title: +3500
Running back Pat Garwo was one of the surprises in the ACC in 2021. There could be some new options in the passing game with the transfers of tight end George Takacs from Notre Dame and receiver Dino Tomlin from Maryland. Arizona defensive lineman Regen Terry is another new arrival. Four receivers on the 2021 Boston College team are in the transfer portal including CJ Lewis who had 55 catches in four seasons with the Eagles.
Safety Jahmin Muse and linebacker Hugh Davis are among the defensive players who transferred out.
Louisville Cardinals
- 2021 record: 6-7
- 2021 conference record: 4-4
- Head coach: Scott Satterfield
- Odds to win conference title: +5000
Malik Cunningham returns to lead the offense after passing for nearly 3000 yards and running for more than 1000. He figures to connect even more with talented tight end Marshon Ford.
A transfer to keep an eye on could be receiver Tyler Hudson who had 1,242 receiving yards and averaged 20 yards per catch at Central Arkansas a season ago. On defense, Louisville adds cornerback Quincy Riley who had 33 tackles and five interceptions in 2021 for Middle Tennessee. Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee had two interceptions and 51 tackles for conference rival Florida State.
Tennessee’s third-leading rusher Tiyon Evans, former Ole Miss linebacker MoMo Sanogo, Temple’s second-leading tackler M.J. Griffin, former Duke safety Jalen Alexander and USC cornerback Jayden Willams also joined Louisville. The Cardinals did lose nearly 20 players due to transfer.
Virginia Tech Hokies
- 2021 record: 6-7
- 2021 conference record: 4-4
- Head coach: Brent Pry
- Odds to win conference title: +6000
Marshall’s Grant Wells, who threw for more than 3,500 yards, is among the newcomers. Other incoming transfers include Temple receiver Jadan Blue, Nebraska linebacker Pheldarius Payne and South Carolina quarterback Jason Brown.
The Hokies had 14 players transfer including second-leading receiver Travion Robinson and starting quarterback Braxton Burmeister.
All the players who caught passes in 2021 had remaining eligibility so the passing game has potential to improve. There were also a lot of young players who saw time on the defensive side of the ball.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- 2021 record: 3-9
- 2021 conference record: 2-6
- Head coach: Geoff Collins
- Odds to win conference title: +10000
Georgia Tech was very active on the transfer front. Dylan McDuffie, a 1,000-yard rusher at Buffalo, will be joined by Akron’s top passer Zach Gibson and former Clemson reserve quarterback Taisun Phommachanh, former Syracuse tight end Luke Benson and offensive lineman RJ Adams from Kentucky will be among the new faces on offense.
Safeties Khari Gee and Ahmari Harvey transferred in from Auburn and Notre Dame while cornerback KJ Wallace also comes in from Notre Dame while former Auburn cornerback Eric Reed will also be heading to Atlanta.
The Yellow Jackets did lose leading rusher Jahmyr Gibbs, defensive back Wesley Walker, defensive lineman Jordan Domineck and defensive lineman Jared Ivey who were sixth, seventh and ninth on the team in tackles last season.
Leading tackler Quez Jackson headed off to the NFL.
Syracuse Orange
- 2021 record: 5-7
- 2021 conference record: 2-6
- Head coach: Dino Babers
- Odds to win conference title: +20000
Sean Tucker had quite the 2021 season with 1496 rushing yards. He was also the second-leading receiver in a passing attack that was the worst in the ACC.
Ten of the top 12 tacklers in 2021 were either freshmen or sophomores led by linebacker Mikel Jones.
Syracuse added quarterbacks Dan Villari from Michigan and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson from Florida. The Orange landed two key transfers from FCS programs with the addition of New Mexico State’s top rusher Juwaun Price and Dartmouth cornerback Isaiah Johnson.
Duke Blue Devils
- 2021 record: 3-9
- 2021 conference record: 0-8
- Head coach: Mike Elko
- Odds to win conference title: +30000
Duke’s secondary should be improved with some incoming transfers. FCS All-American Darius Joiner (142 tackles for Western Illinois in 2021), former Iowa State cornerback Datrone Young, who had 31 tackles and an interception a season ago, as well as Michigan safety Jordan Morant. The Blue Devils also added three former Ivy League players – Cornell offensive lineman Jack Burns, Harvard defensive end Anthony Nelson and Columbia linebacker Cam Dillon.
Leading receiver Jake Bobo transferred to UCLA. Second-leading tackler Lummie Young transferred to Tulane and fellow defensive backs Jalen Alexander, Nate Thompson and Jeremiah Lewis also transferred as did defensive tackle Gary Smith.
Top tackler Shaka Heyward is back to lead the defense in 2022.
