2025 LWOS ACC Predictions

Final Predicted Standings

Last Word’s staff results produced the following ACC predictions (first-place votes are in parentheses):

1. Clemson (6)
2. Miami
3. Lousiville
4. SMU
5. Georgia Tech
6. Florida State
7. Syracuse
8. NC State
9. North Carolina
10. Duke
11. Pitt
12. Virginia Tech
13. Boston College
14. Cal
15. Virginia
16. Wake Forest
17. Stanford

Who Can Challenge Clemson?

The Tigers have the same formula in place when they were winning national championships. They have an elite quarterback in Cade Klubnik and possibly the best defensive front in all of college football. While the Tigers received all of the first-place votes in Last Word’s ACC predictions, Miami received five of the six votes to be the runner-up. The offense has big shoes to fill with Cam Ward off to the NFL. But early reports are that Carson Beck is healthy and looking sharp. Mario Cristobal believes his linemen can compete with anyone. But can Cristobal stay out of his way in a close game? We will know quickly how good this team is with a season opener against Notre Dame.

Meanwhile, Jeff Brohm’s Cardinals won eight games in the regular season and are looking to take the next step as a program. They will be replacing Tyler Shough at the quarterback position. But Miller Moss looks to be the next quarterback to thrive in Brohm’s system. The 2024 ACC runner-up SMU Mustangs are aiming to answer the questions about moving up from the Group of 5 to the P4 in their best Legally Blonde impression. Although the Mustangs lost a ton of production and the schedule is significantly tougher than it was in 2024.

Can Belichick Handle Not Being The Best?

The tabloid-worthy story of the ACC has been playing out in Chapel Hill. When the most accomplished NFL coach of all time was hired, it sent plenty of shockwaves throughout the football world. However, the news of Bill Belichick becoming the Tar Heels’ head football coach quickly took a back seat. His relationship and the involvement of his significantly younger girlfriend have grabbed media attention beyond the college football world. But the attention now shifts to what this team is going to do on the field. The Last Word ACC predictions aren’t expecting anything beyond a .500 record for North Carolina. There are plenty of missing parts on the Tar Heels roster. The new pieces won’t all come together quickly. But the schedule is set up in a way where they do not have a game on the slate that they can’t win.

Hot Seats In the Commonwealth State

The 2024 season felt like the season where Brent Pry would break through, except he didn’t. The Hokies were 0-5 in one-score games. Pry, who is 16-21 in three seasons, is now 1-12 in games decided by seven points or less. It isn’t a lack of talent in Blacksburg. He also has a very talented and experienced quarterback in Kyron Drones. The Hokies have to find a way to start winning close games. But a 12th-place finish might be the end of Pry at Virginia Tech. Meanwhile, the Hokies’ in-state rival’s coach might be in a hotter seat than Pry.

Tony Elliott was hired in large part for his success as a Clemson assistant. However, his three seasons at Virginia have been underwhelming. Elliot is just 11-23 overall and 6-17 in the ACC. That said, he is coming off his best year with a 5-7 record. All signs point to this being Elliott’s most talented team. He also has a favorable schedule. Getting to a bowl would appear to earn one more year on the job. But, based on the Last Word’s ACC predictions, a 15th-place finish would be a step back from 2024 and a likely change for the Hoos.

Sleeping On Pitt?

Pat Narduzzi’s Panther squad started 7-0 last season. They looked like an immediate contender in the ACC. Then the wheels fell off, and they lost six straight to close out 2024. Quarterback Eli Holstein looks to regain and build on his form that resulted in a perfect first half of 2024. But injuries were a major factor in why this team stumbled down the stretch. If they could stay relatively healthy all year, they have proven talent to compete with anyone in the conference. A healthy Panther team would likely mean they greatly exceeded their spot in these ACC predictions for the 2025 season.

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