Greg McElroy picks Clemson over Miami in ACC Championship

Dabo Swinney‘s Clemson Tigers have dominated the Atlantic Coast Conference for the last decade, as Clemson has won eight of the 10 ACC Championship games dating back to 2015. During this span, the Tigers have also won two National Championships and made seven appearances in the College Football Playoff.

This run is even more impressive when you take into account that Clemson didn’t make the College Football Playoff for three consecutive seasons (2021-23) but still boasts the second most appearances in the CFP. The Tigers, however, snuck into it last season following a win over SMU in the ACC Championship game and seem poised to contend for a title this season for really the first time since 2020.

ESPN College Football analyst Greg McElroy took to the “Always College Football” podcast on Thursday morning, where he revealed his pick for the ACC Championship game. McElroy is calling for Clemson to win its ninth ACC title in the past 11 years.

“The big question this year: one team or two-plus in the ACC when it comes to the College Football Playoff?” McElroy asked. “We will first pick the conference champion. And I think based on how things have gone in the offseason with some of my outspoken commentary about the strength of this league (especially at the top of this league), it should come as no surprise that I’m extremely bullish on the two teams that might be vying for this conference championship.”

McElroy explains reasoning behind ACC Champion pick

“There’s probably going to be a few more in the mix… it wouldn’t surprise me if Georgia Tech was in the mix or if a Louisville gets hot and gets in the mix at some point. I just think their schedule is too tough. I think Georgia Tech can rise to the occasion and knock off some contenders, but also think they will lose a couple of games they shouldn’t.”

Only two teams not named Clemson have won an ACC Championship since 2015. Pittsburgh, led by future first-round pick Kenny Pickett, downed Wake Forest 45-21 in the 2021 title game and a quarterback-less 12-0 Florida State took down Louisville 16-6 in 2023.

“So in the ACC, I’m going with the safest possible outcome. I know that Clemson and Miami have the best rosters right now in the ACC. I look at Clemson’s roster top-to-bottom on paper with a Heisman Trophy caliber quarterback (Cade Klubnik) with 17 starters back from a team that won the ACC a year ago. To bring nine starters back on the weak side of the football, it feels like this has been the year that Dabo Swinney has circled to not just win the ACC because I don’t think Clemson fans are satisfied with that being the finish line.”

“I think Clemson wants to go far beyond that and get back to the glory of 2016 and 2018 when they brought home the National Championship. I think this team is capable of doing it and I think they win the ACC this year over the Miami Hurricanes.”