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The wait is almost over.
Now that the calendar has turned to August, we’re less than a month from the start of a football season unlike any other in the 71-year history of the ACC.
Now that all 17 teams have returned to the practice field to begin their preseason preparations, let’s take a look at the top 10 storylines heading into fall camps.
10. Old-school Orange
Everything is new at Syracuse this season. New coach. A roster full of new players. About the only thing that isn’t new is the approach rookie coach Fran Brown is taking toward his first preseason camp.
In an effort to bring the team closer, create a family atmosphere and most importantly, keep a close eye on his players, Brown has gone old school by having the team live together in the same dormitory for the next 4 weeks. He’s also collected everyone’s car keys, forcing them to walk to and from the practice field.
“It’s old school,” Brown said during a press conference earlier this week. “We had to make sure they knew that we’re here to work. We have to put Syracuse back on the map.”
9. Deacon tweaks
Dave Clawson likes to talk about “the Wake Forest way” of doing things and how different it is from other power conference schools because of its small size and strict academic requirements. He’s still as committed as ever to what has proven to be a successful philosophy. But after going 4-8 and missing out on a bowl game for the first time in 8 years, it’s become obvious that at least some tweaks are in order.
To that end, Clawson has turned to the transfer portal more than in previous years, including the addition of 6th-year quarterback Hank Bachmeier. He’s also made some adjustments to his offensive and defensive schemes, along with changes in his practice routines – including live 11-on-11 drills run simultaneously on 2 fields in order to get more players more snaps. Especially on an offensive line in desperate need of improvement after allowing an ACC-high 49 sacks in 2023.
8. Cardinals’ conditioning
No coach wants to get caught looking too far ahead. But in the case of Jeff Brohm, a major focus heading into preseason camp is how the defending ACC runner-up Cardinals finish the year.
That involves conditioning and developing the kind of depth, especially on defense, to avoid the kind of late-season collapse that saw Louisville lose its final 3 games after getting off to a 10-1 start in 2023.
Granted, those 3 games came against quality opponents – rival Kentucky in the regular-season finale, Florida State in the league title game and Southern Cal in the Holiday Bowl. But the statistics show that the Cardinals ran out of gas down the stretch. And it started before the losing streak. After giving up an average of 16 points and 285 yards per game in its first 9 games, those averages jumped to 30 points and 374 yards in the final 5.
7. Virginia Tech’s future is now
“The future is now.” George Allen coined the phrase to justify his practice of trading draft picks for established players during his time coaching the Washington Redskins of the 1970s. It’s also an accurate description of the Hokies’ approach heading into fall camp.
All the elements are there for a legitimate shot at an ACC championship. Brent Pry’s team returns 95% of its offensive production and 86% overall, including dynamic dual-threat quarterback Kyron Drones, from a team that fashioned a 4-win improvement from the previous season Tech also has a favorable schedule that avoids Florida State and has Clemson coming to Lane Stadium.
Now in Year 4 under Pry, the building process is complete. The future is now in Blacksburg. And the Hokies have to prepare accordingly.
6. Full metal Jackets
Georgia Tech proved that it can move the ball and score on anyone in its first full season under Brent Key and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner. The Yellow Jackets finished among the top 4 in the ACC in scoring and total offense with quarterback Haynes King leading the league with 27 touchdown passes.
But in order to take the next step especially against a brutal schedule that includes an opener against defending ACC champion Florida State, Notre Dame and rival Georgia, it’s going to take the same kind of improvement on defense. It’s a task new coordinator Tyler Santucci, who helped transform Duke’s defense into one of the ACC’s best last season, will be focused on accomplishing this fall.
5. Miami’s secondary concern
The Hurricanes’ first priority this preseason is secondary. That’s not an oxymoron. It’s a fact of life after losing starting safeties Kam Kinchens and James Williams, and cornerback Jaden Davis to the NFL, and corner Te’Cory Couch to graduation.
Mario Cristobal and his staff will at least have one starter back in corner Daryl Porter Jr. And Washington transfer Mishael Powell is an experienced replacement at safety. But there promise to be plenty of spirited – and important – position battles for the other available positions between now and opening night.
4. Building depth in the Big D
SMU arrives as the most accomplished of the ACC’s 3 newcomers, having won 11 games and the American Athletic Conference championship a year ago. But even though the Mustangs return many of their key players from that team, there are concerns about their size and physicality across both lines, and their depth against an upgraded power conference schedule.
After starting the season with a couple of soft touches, SMU will play 10 straight power conference opponents. They only played 3 last year, losing all 3. Including a Fenway Bowl matchup with new ACC rival Boston College.
Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee said he’s already taken steps to address the physicality issue through recruiting over the past 2 cycles. Now their task turns to preparing as many of those players – especially those in the No. 2 and 3 positions on the depth chart – to handle the rapidly approaching gauntlet.
3. Life after Drake Maye at UNC
First Sam Howell. Then Drake Maye.
Now what?
After being blessed with 2 straight NFL quarterbacks over the past 4 seasons, Mack Brown heads into this camp with uncertainty at the most important position on the field. Job 1 over the next 4 weeks is finding the most capable replacement for Maye – the 3rd overall pick in the NFL Draft to the New England Patriots – from an underwhelming trio of candidates.
The good news for the Tar Heels is that they return the ACC’s leading rusher from 2023, Omarion Hampton. Whether it’s returning backup Conner Harrell, Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson or late arrival Jacolby Criswell, the best recipe for success is handing the ball off as many times as possible and letting Hampton cook.
2. Clemson receivers catching on quickly
Cade Klubnik shouldered a good portion of the blame for Clemson’s uncharacteristic 6th-place finish in the ACC last season. And he did have his share of ups and downs. Especially early. But there’s only so much any quarterback can do when limited by an underachieving corps of receivers.
Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley recognized the problem and took steps to correct it during the offseason by bringing in a pair of explosive pass-catching threats. The problem is that unlike many of their ACC rivals, the Tigers’ new additions are true freshmen, not proven veterans off the transfer portal.
That makes it a priority of preseason camp to give 5-star recruits Bryant Wesco Jr., who at least got a head start by enrolling early and participating in spring practice, and TJ Moore as many reps as it takes to get them ready for Clemson’s defining season opener against Georgia.
1. Florida State’s chemistry lab
Fall classes don’t start for another few weeks. But already, Mike Norvell and his football team are busy studying up on their chemistry lessons. With only 4 returning starters on each side of the ball and 15 incoming transfers, there’s plenty of work to do to get everyone on the same page and bring all the new elements together into one cohesive unit.
“Ultimately that is the challenge in college football,” Norvell said recently at the ACC’s annual Football Kickoff media event in Charlotte. “I think we have a group of like-minded individuals. They love to work. They’re willing to embrace the challenge. It’s that cohesiveness that has me excited about what this team’s potential can be. We just now get to go live it out as we start off with this upcoming season.”
There’s no guarantee all the newcomers will buy in. And even if they eventually do, how long it will take for it all to come together, especially with a Week 0 opener against Georgia Tech in Ireland.
Award-winning columnist Brett Friedlander has covered the ACC and college basketball since the 1980s.
