The Atlantic Coast Conference. A conference dominated by turnover chains, tomahawk chops and guys named Dabo. If you’ve been paying attention to College Football over the last half decade, you should be all too familiar with the ACC. Whether it has been Clemson or Florida State, this has been a conference that has had a significant role to play in the outcome of the College Football Playoff and National Championship. And with good reason. This is arguably the best conference in College Football. From top to bottom, each team has something that makes them stand out. Even Duke. (And seriously…fuck Duke.)
Let’s get ready to dive into the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference.
Team to Watch: Boston College
Led by Sophomores QB Anthony Brown and RB AJ Dillon, the BC offense clicked down the stretch and the freshman pair led the Golden Eagles to a 5-2 record in their final 7 games, after an anemic 2-4 start last season. Combine that hot finish with Brown’s top three receiving targets returning this season AND one of the best recruiting classes that head coach Steve Addazio has put together and Boston College could be in for some excitement in 2018.
Game to Watch: Clemson at Florida State (10/27)
It’s Clemson and Florida State in late October. Do I really need to break it down?
Potential Contenders
Atlantic: Florida State
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, “No one can stop Clemson this year”. It’s probably very true. Florida State is set for a major bounce-back after last year played out the way it did after QB Deondre Francois went down and with him, any chance of sniffing the CFP. Francois has had anything but a smooth road back to where he was prior to the injury. If he’s able to get back to the level of dominance that was expected out of him, then maybe someone can stop Clemson this year. And maybe that someone is the ‘Noles.
Coastal: Miami
As much as I loved watching Paul Chryst and the Badgers snatch that turnover chain last year in the Orange Bowl, that may have very well been the game that sets the College Football ablaze this season. With a win to finish the season, the answer to the “Is Miami back?” question would have been etched in gold. And then probably hung on a gold chain. But that was not the case. And now the Hurricanes may feel they need to prove something. If they are able to ignite the college football world like they did a season ago and pair that defense with a solid offense this season, then maybe Miami is actually back. And could potentially play spoiler in the Conference Championship game.
Conference Winner: Clemson
I feel like the common thread of the last three conference previews has been “Who can knock of ‘x”?”. The same will be said about the ACC. The program that Dabo Swinney has built in down in Clemson, SC is one of the most dominant in College Football. The Tigers come into 2018 with the most talented defensive line in the nation. They also have playmakers left and right on the offensive side of the ball. This combination provides not only what it takes to claim another ACC title, but expect this team to have their name called on CFP Announcement Night.