Phil Steele reveals preseason 2023 ACC power ratings
The ACC is going to be a top-heavy conference in 2023 considering some of the best that they have to offer this upcoming season. Now, ahead of that campaign, Phil Steele has rated those programs one through fourteen as part of his preview of the next college football season.
The first four names in Steele’s rating are a quartet of name brand programs that will take part of the greater national storyline next season. At the top, Florida State and Clemson appear almost destined to go back and forth as the conference’s best in ’23. After that, North Carolina, who made the ACC Championship last fall, and Miami want to prove they’re every bit as good.
From there, Pittsburgh rounds out the top-five. Jeff Brohm’s Louisville Cardinals, three more teams out of the state of North Carolina, and Syracuse then round out the Top-10 in the ACC according to Steele.
1. Florida State Seminoles
There is genuine hype on the national level again when it comes to Florida State. Going 10-3 in 2022 got the train rolling and it hasn’t stopped since the Seminoles returned most of their production from last year.
Mike Norvell has a team that can compete for the ACC’s crown for the first time since they won it in 2014. If QB Jordan Travis can post similar numbers this fall, it will go a long way in separating FSU for one of those spots and, subsequently, giving them a shot at the College Football Playoff.
2. Clemson Tigers
Although Clemson has won double-digit games for 12 consecutive years, some see the Tigers as a program that has lost some team. That has especially been the case after the past two seasons with DJ Uiagalelei as their starting quarterback.
However, doubt Dabo at your own risk. The Tigers sent out another top-defense yet again last year and, with the transition to Cade Klubnik and the hire of Garrett Riley as their offensive coordinator, Clemson should remain right in the thick of things out in the Atlantic Coast.
3. North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina was in the midst of putting together a fantastic run last season as they were led by redshirt freshman QB Drake Maye. Then November 19th came and, from that point on, the Tar Heels would go winless in their final four matchups.
Now, after an offseason of alleged tampering, Maye is back for another go at it in Chapel Hill. The task then falls on Mack Brown to bring the rest of UNC up to his level in order to give themselves another shot in Charlotte.
4. Miami Hurricanes
Miami may have had the most disappointing season last year in the ACC. They went 5-7 overall in Mario Cristobal’s first run in Coral Gables with a loss to MTSU and four conference blowouts in their final six games.
Since then, though, the ‘Canes have cleaned house in order to set things straight. The question now is how much of a difference it will make for a fanbase that very badly wants to compete again.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers
Pittsburgh had a roller coaster of a season, although it was fairly successful. They were amongst the Top-25 over the first five weeks before a second loss sent them out. Even so, Pat Narduzzi’s team won their final five games to close their year on a high note.
Transfer QB Phil Jurkovec should meet somewhere in between of Kenny Pickett in 2021 and Kedon Slovis. If so, a third straight bowl appearance should be in the cards for the Panthers after they’ve won 20 games in the past two years.
6. Louisville Cardinals
Out with Scott Satterfield, in with Brohm. That change alone has many people around Louisville excited about what the Cardinals can become under his leadership.
However, what he did at Purdue, especially in ’21 and ’22, may not take hold immediately. The schedule sets up well for them but, as a whole, Steele has them right in the middle of the pack for now until we get a better idea of what they’ll be doing under new management.
7. NC State Wolfpack
After opening as a Top-15 team and at 4-0, the loss of Devin Leary changed NC State’s fate. They would play .500 ball the rest of the way and close the year losing three of their last four.
Now, with Leary out and Brennan Armstrong in, the Wolfpack will be far more stable at that spot. Add in an experienced defense and Dave Doeren should have NC State in bowl contention again in the ACC.
8. Duke Blue Devils
Duke was a surprise in 2022 as the Blue Devils went 9-4. That schedule included a 4-1 start and a 5-1 finish in Mike Elko’s first season.
To be fair, it’ll be difficult to replicate that in his second season with them facing several of the ACC’s best this season, including an opener vs. Clemson. Even so, Duke will have enough experience, specifically in QB Riley Leonard, to potentially catch some eyes again.
9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
No one yet knows what to make of Wake Forest in their first season without Sam Hartman in some time. Even so, Dave Clawson has brought seven straight bowl appearances to Winston-Salem with five of them being wins.
With that in mind, something will have to give. That will place plenty of pressure upon Mitch Griffis as Hartman’s replacement heading into next season.
10. Syracuse Orange
Syracuse came in with a hot start and flamed out with a cold finish in ’22. The Orange opened up at 6-0 and reached the Top-15 before losing six of their final seven.
Plenty of questions need to be answered with significant changes on both sides of the football. They’ll need to sort those out in the first four weeks too before they reach a stretch of difficult play once they get into their ACC slate.
11. Virginia Tech Hokies
3-8 wasn’t an ideal start for Brent Pry in Blacksburg. An opening loss at Old Dominion set the stage for the Hokie’s season as they would eventually lose seven straight while picking up only one Power Five win.
Virginia Tech’s offense will need to get better, and quickly, after finishing just 118th in the nation last season. If they can’t muster more than last year’s 19.3 ppg., it could be another long season inside Lane Stadium in what could be their fourth straight losing year.
12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
You have to give credit where it’s due for Brent Key. After Geoff Collins went 10-28 in Atlanta, Key took over and nearly led Georgia Tech to bowl eligibility as they closed the season playing .500 football under his leadership.
The Yellow Jackets will need to continue to show improvement on both sides of the ball, especially considering their conference schedule and a pair of SEC games to play. Even so, Key earned his chance to show the program what he’s got over the course of a full season with GT.
13. Boston College Golden Eagles
Jeff Haley needs a much better season in Massachusetts after going 3-9 in ’22. That’s especially true considering both sides of their team finished 100th or worst in the country last season.
For his sake, Boston College has a schedule that can be managed with only Florida State, Pitt, and Miami as the only highly challenging hurdles. The Golden Eagles even get two of those games at home. However, it’s also the kind of schedule where, if results aren’t found, changes could be coming the program’s way.
14. Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia’s season already wasn’t going well at 3-7 before a truly tragic matter ended it for good with their last game coming on November 12th.
Now, with them returning to the field in less than two months, Tony Elliott has to navigate that while also working through a transitioning roster. He may not have much time to do so either considering their first three games, including a pair on the road at Tennessee and Maryland, before diving head first into the ACC.
Again, much of the conversation in the ACC will surround what teams like Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina, and Miami can make themselves. Even so, that leaves plenty of room in a 14-team league for someone to come poke their head in and make it about them at some point of the slate in the Atlantic Coast Conference.