2025 Preseason ACC Predictions

A preseason prediction for all 17 ACC teams heading into the 2025 college football season.

Projected ACC StandingsComments

12-0
Clemson looks like a complete team that could be 13-0 headed into the CFP

11-1
Expect Kevin Jennings to take a bit of a step back this year but the schedule almost assures a really strong season.

10-2
Color me a bit skeptical of Mario Cristobal and Miami but the schedule is there to be a CFP contender.

9-3
The Haynes and Haynes combo is not to be trifled with. Brent Key seems to have finally found a roster that can compete for an ACCCG berth.

9-3
Manny Diaz proved me wrong last year. With a good transfer QB and soft schedule, they will make noise this year.

8-4
Offense should be really good. Defense — who knows?

8-4
Dave Doeren is usually able to pull together a solid squad every year but will that defense hold up after all the transfers?

6-6
Too much talent to be as bad as last year. Will the new influx transfers this year work out for them? Hard to pick anything but middle of the road.

6-6
Solid additions through the portal but Brent Pry is still the head coach.

6-6
Pitt and Pat Narduzzi are trending toward becoming a perennial 6-6 team.

5-7
Bill Belichick is a football genius but he doesn’t block, tackle or run the ball.

5-7
They have a great RB and that’s pretty much it. However, that may be enough to win 5 games with that schedule.

4-8
Tough schedule and not enough talent. Not a great combination.

4-8
Fran Brown might get a reality check in year 2.

4-8
Soft schedule might help them out a lot but ultimately they have to show they have become a better team when they hit the field.

3-9
Cal football looks lost at the moment. At least they have the #Calgorithm.

3-9
Tough schedule. Transfer losses. Interim head coach and a new AD trying to make his mark. Looks like a bottom-out season for Stanford.

Stanford vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

Virginia Tech got robbed against Miami. We can argue all day about whether it was a catch or not. The reality is that they called it a catch on the field. Saying they had enough evidence to overturn the call is nonsense. The ACC officials were just making up rules at that point. Either way, life isn’t fair. Use it as motivation and move on to the next one. The best Virginia Tech teams I can remember used heartbreaking games as motivation to achieve bigger goals.

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall:43rd
Offense: 47th
Defense: 43rd
Special Teams: 43rd

Stanford

Overall: 83rd
Offense: 79th
Defense: 90th
Special Teams: 19th

Stanford has had moments where their offense shows a spark but they aren’t consistent. This is a team that likes to move the ball on the ground. Tech has had a lot of trouble stopping the run so far this season. Stanford’s leading rusher is QB Ashton Daniels. However, he suffered a leg injury at the end of the Clemson game so we’re not sure about his status for Saturday. If he can’t go there isn’t a lot of experience behind him. One of the backups, Justin Lamson, played some last season and is more of a runner than a passer. The Hokies need to be ready to stop a running QB regardless of who starts on Saturday. Another player to watch is WR Elic Ayomanor. He catches everything thrown to him and can break a big play if you give him space.

Stanford doesn’t give up many yards on the ground. This is a game where Drones has to be on his game and let is receivers make plays. Stanford ranks 124th in the country in passing yards allowed. The Hokies are going to have to air it out this week. A conservative game plan is a good recipe for a loss in this game. If this passing offense is going to get right, it needs to be in this game.

The line for this game opened at Virginia Tech by 4. It has since moved to Virginia Tech by 9. I think someone in Vegas knows something about the health of Stanford’s QB. Either way, Tech needs to be able to stop the run. They’ve already been burned by two running QBs this year. They need to figure out a solution for stopping a running QB. Since Stanford is good at stopping the run, they are going to force Tech to do something they aren’t as good at which is throwing the ball. If Drones can throw the ball like he did against Miami, they should be okay. I tend to agree with Vegas. If Ashton Daniels were healthy, I would think this is a close game. If he’s hurt, I like the Hokies in this one.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 31, Stanford 21

2024 ACC Football Preseason Predictions

This week we are doing ACC preseason predictions from our favorite Hokie podcast and Twitter personalities. We have preseason picks from Twitter personality OXVT (@OX_VT), Brian Seigla (@seigs5052) from the Boundary Corner Podcast, and Pete B. (@petebvt) from the Two Deep Podcast. We are also joined by ACC contributors Casey (Clemson) and Dirty Bird (Miami) with their picks for the 2024 ACC football season.

Treadmillhorse (@treadmillhorse)OX_VT
(@OX_VT)
Brian Seigla
(@seig5052)

11-1

11-1

11-1

10-2

10-2

10-2

10-2

9-3

9-3

9-3

8-4

9-3

9-3

9-3

8-4

9-3

8-4

8-4

8-4

8-4

8-4

8-4

8-4

7-5

6-6

8-4

7-5

5-7

7-5

6-6

5-7

6-6

6-6

5-7

6-6

6-6

5-7

4-8

5-7

4-8

5-7

5-7

4-8

5-7

5-7

3-9

4-8

3-9

3-9

3-9

3-9
ACC OPOYCam Ward, MiamiPreston Stone, SMUKyron Drones, Virginia Tech
ACC DPOYBarrett Carter, ClemsonAshton Gillotte, LouisvilleBarrett Carter, Clemson
ACC CoachDave Doeren, NC StateRhett Lashlee, SMUBrent Pry, Virginia Tech
Champ GameClemson / Florida StateClemson / SMUClemson / Florida State
ChampionClemsonClemsonFlorida State
Pete B.
(@petebvt)
Casey
(@FromSluggo)
DIRTY BIRD
(@dirtyyybird)

10-2

11-1

11-1

9-3

10-2

10-2

9-3

10-2

8-4

9-3

9-3

8-4

9-3

9-3

8-4

9-3

9-3

8-4

7-5

8-4

7-5

7-5

8-4

7-5

7-5

7-5

7-5

6-6

7-5

6-6

6-6

6-6

6-6

6-6

6-6

5-7

5-7

5-7

4-8

4-8

3-9

4-8

4-8

3-9

4-8

4-8

3-9

3-9

4-8

2-10

3-9
ACC OPOYKyron Drones, Virginia TechPhil Mafah, ClemsonCam Ward, Miami
ACC DPOYFrancisco Mauigoa, MiamiAshton Gillotte, LouisvilleRueben Bain, Miami
ACC CoachBrent Pry, Virginia TechBrent Pry, Virginia TechBrent Pry, Virginia Tech
Champ GameFlorida State / Virginia TechClemson / Florida StateMiami / Virginia Tech
ChampionFlorida StateClemsonMiami