With spring ball about to get underway across the country, it’s the perfect time to take a shot at ranking each Power Four conference in College Football.
Next is the ACC. Here’s how I view the conference from a top‑ten power‑ranking perspective as we head into spring practices.
All recruiting and transfer portal rankings are via 247sports.com
Table of Contents
#1 Miami Hurricanes
2025 finish: 13–3 (6–2 ACC), National runner-up
2026 schedule/SOS: A legitimate gauntlet featuring road trips to Notre Dame and Clemson, plus a deep ACC slate with Pitt, at North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Florida State. A CFP résumé is essentially built in if they take care of business.
Notable Returning Talent: Mark Fletcher Jr (RB), CharMar Brown (RB), Malachi Toney (WR), Elija Lofton (TE), Matthew McCoy (OL), Ahmad Moten Sr. (DL), Justin Scott (DL), Cam Pruitt (LB), Zechariah Poyser (DB), OJ Frederique Jr (DB), Dylan Joyce (P)
Talent intake (2026): No. 1 ACC recruiting class (30 commits; one five-star, 15 four-stars), No. 7 overall, plus the No. 1 ACC transfer class (12 additions; best point total in the league).
Notable Incoming Talent: Darian Mensah (QB, Duke), Cooper Barkate (WR, Duke), Damon Wilson II (EDGE, Missouri), Keona Davis (DL, Nebraska)
Spring storylines:
- Can Miami turn “best roster” into dominant trench play quickly enough to survive that brutal midseason stretch?
- How does the loss of major trench players on both sides of the ball affect the Hurricanes?
#2 SMU Mustangs
2025 finish: 9–4 (6–2 ACC), Holiday Bowl win vs. Arizona.
2026 schedule / SOS: SMU drew multiple early “measuring-stick” games: at Florida State, at Louisville, plus Virginia, Cal, and at Notre Dame. If the Mustangs are for real, this schedule will reveal it quickly.
Notable Returning Talent: Kevin Jennings (QB), Yamir Knight (WR), three starting offensive linemen, Jahkai Lang (DL), three starting linebackers, Tyren Polley (DB), Marcelus Barnes Jr. (DB).
Talent intake (2026): No. 6 ACC recruiting class (23 commits, four four-stars) plus the No. 7 ACC transfer class (16 additions).
Notable Incoming Talent: Yannick Smith (WR, ECU), Theo Melin Ohrstrom (TE, Texas A&M), Randy Pittman Jr. (TE, Florida State), Kendrick Raphael (RB, Cal), Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder (DL, Kansas State).
Spring storylines:
– Can SMU maintain its offensive explosiveness while raising its defensive floor enough to handle the league’s bigger, older fronts?
– What impact will the transfer additions have on the offense?
– How will new defensive coordinator Maurice Crumb handle his expanded duties?
#3 Louisville Cardinals
2025 finish: 9–4 (4–4 ACC), Boca Raton Bowl win vs Toledo.
2026 schedule / SOS: Non-conference sets the tone vs Ole Miss, followed by the ACC slate, which includes SMU, Florida State, Wake, NC State (away), Georgia Tech (away), Pitt, and Kentucky (away) to close. However, the Cardinals do benefit from no road game outside of the East Coast.
Notable Returning Talent: Isaac Brown (RB), Keyjuan Brown (RB), Jaleel Skinner (TE), Clev Lubin (EDGE), AJ Green (EDGE), Antonio Watts (LB), T.J. Capers (LB), Tayon Holloway (DB)
Talent intake (2026): No. 13 ACC recruiting class (20 signees) but No. 3 in ACC transfers, 18th nationally (31 additions) — Louisville is clearly leaning into portal experience.
Notable Incoming Talent: Lincoln Kienholz (QB, Ohio State), Marquise Davis (RB, Missouri), Tre Ricardson (WR, Vanderbilt), Lawayne McCoy (WR, Florida State), Jackson Voth (WR, Drake)
Spring storylines:
- Does the portal-heavy approach translate into a cleaner week‑to‑week product — fewer penalties and turnovers — in tight ACC games?
- What will the starting offensive line look like? Replacing the entire group in 2026
- Can transfer receivers replace the production of Caullin Lacy and Chris Bell?
#4 Clemson Tigers
2025 finish: 7–6 (4–4 ACC), Pinstripe Bowl loss vs Penn State.
2026 schedule / SOS: at LSU, at Cal, vs Miami, vs Virginia Tech, at Florida State, vs Georgia Tech, at Duke, plus South Carolina — Clemson’s slate is loaded with marquee games and swing points. This will be an uphill climb for Dabo Swinney’s squad in 2026.
Notable Returning Talent: Christopher Vizzina (QB), Gideon Davidson (RB), T.J. Moore (WR), Bryant Wesco Jr. (WR), Collin Sadler (OL), Harris Sewell (OL), Will Heldt (EDGE), Jaheim Lawson (EDGE), Sammy Brown (LB), Ashton Hampton (DB)
Talent intake (2026): No. 4 in ACC recruiting (22 commits; 8 four-stars) but No. 15 in ACC transfers (10 commits) — more “recruit and develop” than portal splash. Will that backfire?
Notable Incoming Talent: Chris Johnson Jr (RB, SMU), London Merritt (EDGE, Colorado), Markus Strong (DL, Oklahoma), Elliot Washington II (DB, Penn State), Donovan Starr (DB, Auburn)
Spring storylines:
- Can Clemson regain its identity as an every-down bully up front — the difference between an 8–4 season and true championship contention?
- In what many view as a make-or-break year for Dabo Swinney, how will he respond to the pressure?
- Who will emerge as the Tigers’ next breakout star after losing so much production and seniority from last season?
- Will the Tigers improve offensively under re-hired coordinator Chad Morris?
#5 Virginia Cavaliers
2025 finish: 11–3 (7–1 ACC), Gator Bowl win vs Missouri
2026 schedule / SOS: Opens with NC State in Brazil, then faces Florida State (away), SMU (away), Duke, at Wake, Cal, and Virginia Tech (away), along with several “coin-flip” ACC games sprinkled throughout.
Notable Returning Talent: Kameron Courtney (WR), Fisher Camac (EDGE), Jason Hammond (DL), Kam Robinson (LB), Landon Danley (LB), Ethan Minter (DB), Corey Costner (DB)
Talent intake (2026): Ranked last in ACC recruiting (14 commits; no four-stars) but No. 8 in ACC transfer class (29 additions). That’s a major dependence on the portal.
Notable Incoming Talent: Beau Pribula (QB, Missouri), Eli Holstein (QB, Pitt), Peyton Lewis (RB, Tennessee), Jekail Middlebrook (RB, Middle Tennessee), Tyson Davis (WR, Central Michigan), Da’Shawn Martin (WR, Kent State), Matthew Forbs-White (EDGE, Baylor), Zion Wilson (DL, East Carolina), Christian Ellis (LB, Virginia Tech), Brandyn Hillman (DB, Michigan), Jalen McNair (DB, Buffalo)
Spring storylines:
- Can UVA add enough impact starters — not just depth — to avoid the classic “great year → regression” trap?
- How will the Hoos fare having to replace pieces of their entire offensive line?
- Can G5 transfer talent translate to immediate success in ACC?
#6 Virginia Tech Hokies
2025 finish: 3–9 (2–6 ACC).
2026 schedule/SOS: A true gauntlet from start to finish. At Maryland out of conference, then an ACC gauntlet with road trips to Clemson, Cal, SMU, and Miami, plus Georgia Tech, Pitt, and Virginia—a tough schedule for James Franklin in year one.
Notable Returning Talent: Marcellous Hawkins (RB), Jeffrey Overton Jr (RB), Ayden Greene (WR), Takye Heath (WR), 4 starting offensive linemen, Elhadj Fall (EDGE), Kemari Copeland (DL), Kaleb Spencer (LB), Noah Chambers (LB), Isaiah Brown-Murray (DB), Tyson Flowers (DB), John Love (K)
Talent intake (2026): No. 6 ACC recruiting class (22 commits, 3 four-stars) plus the No. 4 ACC transfer class (27 additions), with the majority of them coming from Penn State.
Notable Incoming Talent: Ethan Grunkemeyer (QB, Penn State), Bill Davis (RB, Louisiana), Que’Sean Brown (WR, Duke), Marlion Jackson (WR, LA Tech), Luke Reynolds (TE, Penn State), Matt Henderson (TE, Penn State), Mylachi Williams (EDGE, Penn State), Keon Wylie (LB, Penn State), Jaquez White (DB, Troy), Cam Chadwick (DB, UConn)
Coaching change: Virginia Tech hired James Franklin (announced Nov. 17, 2025), and Brent Pry was re-hired as defensive coordinator.
Spring storylines:
- How quickly does the Franklin era deliver QB stability and improved line play? The talent intake says “jump,” but the schedule demands it immediately.
- How quickly can VA Tech improve under Franklin?
- How impactful will Brent Pry staying on staff be for the defensive unit?
#7 California Golden Bears
2025 finish: 7–6 (4–4 ACC), Hawaii Bowl loss vs Hawaii.
2026 schedule / SOS: Cal’s slate is tricky: UCLA, Clemson, at UNLV, Virginia Tech, at SMU, at NC State, at Virginia, and a late-season stretch with Pitt and Stanford. Lots of “style points” opportunities—also plenty of upset risks.
Notable Returning Talent: Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele (QB), Jordan King (WR), Mason Mini (TE), Tyson Ruffins (OL), Sioape Vatikani (OL), Derek Wilkins (DL), Jayden Wayne (LB), Aiden Manutai (DB)
Talent intake (2026): No. 14 ACC recruiting class (18 signees) but No. 2 ACC transfer class (32 additions). This is one of the league’s biggest portal-driven overhauls in the country.
Notable Incoming Talent: Adam Mohammed (RB, Washington), Ashten Emory (RB, UTEP), Chase Hendricks (WR, Ohio), Ian Strong (WR, Rutgers), Dorain Thomas (TE, New Mexico), 6 defensive linemen, Kamar Mothudi (LB, Oregon), AJ Tuitele (LB, USC), Ricky Fletcher (DB, Ole Miss)
Coaching context: Tosh Lupoi comes in as the new face of the program, leading the Bears into a new era.
Spring storyline:
- Can Cal generate instant offensive chemistry (timing and spacing) while the defense holds up against ACC speed?
- How does Cal defense improve with Lupoi’s system?
- Watch out for this Cal offense in 2026. Will be a must-watch football.
#8 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2025 finish: 9–4 (6–2 ACC), Pop-Tart Bowl loss vs BYU.
2026 schedule / SOS: It’s a grinder. Nonconference games include Colorado and Tennessee, then conference matchups with Duke, at VA Tech, at Pitt, Louisville, at Clemson, and finishing at SEC rival Georgia. Not many breathers.
Notable Returning Talent: Malachi Hosley (RB), Ethan Mackenny (OL), Malachi Carney (OL), AJ Hoffler (EDGE), Bayden Manley (EDGE), EJ Lightsey (LB), Kyle Efford (LB), Aidan Birr (K)
Talent intake (2026): No. 9 ACC recruiting class (24 signees) plus the No. 6 ACC transfer class (19 additions).
Notable Incoming Talent: Alberto Mendoza (QB, Indiana), Justice Haynes (RB), Isaiah Fuhrmann (WR, Elon), Jaylen Mbakwe (WR, Alabama), 6 defensive linemen, Jonas Duclona (DB, USF)
Spring storylines:
- Can Tech sustain last year’s efficiency while upgrading depth? This schedule will punish thin teams in November.
- Excited to see the Haynes/Hosley duo at running back this season.
- Can Jason Semore’s defense take a step up in 2026?
#9 North Carolina State Wolfpack
2025 finish: 8–5 (4–4 ACC).
2026 schedule / SOS: Opens against Virginia in Brazil, then at Vanderbilt, vs Louisville, at Florida State, vs Cal and Duke, plus a cluster of mid-tier ACC games that will determine whether this team is just bowl-caliber or a true contender.
Notable Returning Players: CJ Bailey (QB), Jayden “Duke” Scott (RB), Keenan Jackson (WR), Spike Sowells Jr. (OL), Teague Anderson (OL), Isaiah Shirley (DL), Chase Bond (DL), Asaad Brown Jr (DB), Jackson Vick (DB)
Talent intake (2026): No. 13 ACC recruiting class (27 signees) and No. 9 ACC transfer class (20 additions).
Notable Incoming Talent: Davion Gause (RB, North Carolina), Victor Snow (WR, Buffalo), Dazion Dovier (WR, App State), Joshisa Trader (WR, Miami), Chance Robinson (WR, Miami), Vander Ploog (TE, Oregon), Harvey Dyson (EDGE, Tulane), Katron Evans (DL, Marshall), Raul Aguirre Jr (LB, Miami), DaKaari Nelson (LB, Penn State), King Mack (DB, Penn State)
Spring storyline:
- Can the offense find a higher ceiling? NC State’s good seasons become great when the offense hits on enough explosive plays.
#10 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
2025 finish: 9–4 (4–4 ACC), Mayo Bowl win vs Mississippi State
2026 schedule / SOS: Sneaky tough. Miami, Duke, and road trips to Purdue, Louisville, Cal, NC State, SMU, and Georgia Tech. That’s a lot of road stress.
Notable Returning Talent: Ty Clark III (RB), Carlos Hernandez (WR), Clinton Richard (OL), 4 starting defensive linemen, Aiden Hall (LB), Davaughn Patterson (DB), Braylon Johnson (DB)
Talent intake (2026): No. 9 ACC recruiting class (30 signees) plus the No. 13 ACC transfer class (24 additions).
Notable Incoming Talent: Gio Lopez (QB, North Carolina), KD Daniels (RB, Florida), Antonio Meeks (WR, Louisville), Chase Tyler (WR, Duke), Wondame Davis Jr (WR, UTEP), Landon Morris (TE, Cal), Shakai Woods (LB, Mid Tennessee), Brain Blades II (DB, FIU)
Coaching context: Jake Dickert, hired in December 2024, is still building the next iteration of Wake’s identity.
Spring storyline:
- Can Wake maintain its trademark QB and skill-position efficiency while getting noticeably tougher up front on defense?
Below are the rest of my ACC Power Rankings.
