2019 ACC College Football Preseason Rankings: Clemson the Team to Beat

2019 ACC College Football Preseason Rankings – Clemson the Team to Beat: Not every conference can have the depth of the SEC or Big Ten, and the most top-heavy conference in college football just might be the ACC. To be fair, there are several quality teams in the ACC, but with the Clemson Tigers gapping the competition by a seemingly insurmountable margin, it seems like every other team is fighting for second place. With that in mind, most of the teams that made the rankings reside in the Coastal Division since Clemson is likely to carry the Atlantic. Also, be sure and check out our complete 2019 ACC Football predictions for projected record and finish of each team.

2019 ACC College Football Preseason Rankings: Clemson the Team to Beat

1. Clemson Tigers

I was tempted to just list Clemson in all five of these spots. That’s how wide the gap is between the defending national champs and every other team in the ACC. Trevor Lawrence tossed 30 touchdowns and shredded Alabama in the title game as a true freshman, and he will lead an offense that returns eight total starters, including an elite group of receivers and a game-breaking running back in Travis Etienne. The Tigers are always loaded with NFL-caliber athletes on the defensive side of the ball, and it will be a surprise if Clemson isn’t sitting undefeated heading into the College Football Playoff.

2. Miami Hurricanes

The Hurricanes have a tough out-of-conference matchup with Florida to open the year, but they avoid Clemson and Syracuse from the Atlantic Division in ACC play. More importantly, the Hurricanes boast one of the elite defensive units in the country, led by an excellent linebacking corps. The offense will have to improve, but the Hurricanes have athletes at the skill positions. Between the stingy defense and one of the friendlier schedules, Miami has the best chance to win the Coastal Division and try to pull off a miracle against Clemson in the conference title game.

3. Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia came out of nowhere last year to win eight games, capping the year with a 28-0 beatdown of South Carolina in the Belk Bowl. A big reason for the success was the explosive play of quarterback Bryce Perkins, and the dual-threat weapon is back for more after throwing for 2,680 yards and 25 scores and nearly adding 1,000 yards on the ground in 2018. Overall, the Cavaliers welcome back 15 starters, and while they do face Notre Dame out of conference and Miami on the road in ACC play, they do dodge Clemson and get Florida State and Virginia Tech at home. A Coastal Division title is well within reach.

4. Virginia Tech Hokies

The young Hokies took their lumps last season, but they could start to return the favor in 2019. Virginia Tech has 10 starters back on the defensive side of the ball, and starting quarterback Ryan Willis returns for his senior season after tossing a career-high 24 scores last year. With more experience and a deep receiving corps, the offense should also take a step forward. The Hokies should be in the hunt for the Coastal Division crown.

5. Florida State Seminoles

Last year was a disaster for the Seminoles, and they had a losing season for the first time since 1976. Head coach Willie Taggart will try to right the ship in 2019, and with eight starters back on defense, Florida State should start to return to form. Running back Cam Akers figures to be the centerpiece of the offense, and if the addition of Kendal Briles as offensive coordinator provides the expected boost, the Seminoles may be the second-most talented team in the ACC. The problem is that they reside in the same division as Clemson, and upsetting the Tigers seems next to impossible.

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