USA Today releases updated ACC Football rankings ahead 2025 college football season

With 17 teams vying for the crown, the ACC will be a battleground this fall. Before the season kicks off, USA Today’s Paul Myerberg has revealed his updated conference rankings ahead of the 2025 season. 

There’s a bevy of College Football Playoff contenders within the conference, and it should be a wild ride to get through the ACC this season. Utilizing Myerberg’s list of teams, from No. 1-136, we can discern which ACC teams he believes in more than the rest.

Check out his full, updated ACC rankings below. There’s a couple of surprises sprinkled in, but as we’ve learned in the past, don’t count anyone out when you’re trying to predict the ACC.

1. Clemson Tigers (No. 3 Nationally)

With a whopping 16 returning starters this year, Clemson is USA Today’s highest-ranked ACC team. Most notably, Clemson is returning quarterback Cade Klubnik, who exploded for career-highs of 3,639 passing yards and 36 touchdowns last season.

Klubnik won’t lack targets. The Tigers’ three leading receivers from last season are also running it back this fall. To pile on, Clemson added three valuable pieces in the portal. Head coach Dabo Swinney will have plenty of weapons at his disposal in 2025.

2. Miami Hurricanes (9)

The Hurricanes had their best season yet under head coach Mario Cristobal last year, just falling short of the CFP. While Miami lost the 2025 NFL Draft No. 1 pick, Cam Ward, this offseason, the program added Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck.

Beck was the No. 1 overall player in On3’s 2025 Transfer Portal Player Rankings, and will immediately make Miami’s offense one of the most-feared in the conference. To pile on, Miami is returning 58% of its production on defense, according to ESPN.

3. Louisville Cardinals (14)

Since taking over at Louisville in 2023, Jeff Brohm has turned the program into a consistent winner. Alas, he hasn’t been able to get the Cardinals over the CFP hump quite yet. Brohm will look to do just that this fall with transfer QB Miller Moss leading the way.

Louisville is returning its leader on defense, linebacker TJ Quinn. Quinn led the Cardinals with 82 tackles last season. Louisville’s success will largely fall on its offensive line, which underwent a massive makeover this offseason following a strong 2024 campaign.

4. SMU Mustangs (27)

SMU isn’t ranked nearly as high in the national conversation as Clemson or Miami. However, the Mustangs didn’t need outside confidence last season to achieve extraordinary results. In fact, the media predicted SMU to finish seventh in the conference in last year’s preseason.

All things considered, SMU is less of a dark horse this year than the last. The Mustangs’ hype starts behind center, where QB1 Kevin Jennings will be reprising his role. SMU reeled in a transfer commitment from former Arkansas offensive lineman Addison Nichols this offseason to help protect Jennings, as well.

5. Florida State Seminoles (34)

Florida State’s 2024 season was nothing short of a catastrophe. After being picked to win the ACC, the Seminoles posted a 2-10 overall record and a 1-7 mark in conference play. Consequently, head coach Mike Norvell didn’t hesitate to make sweeping changes after the season.

Norvell fired both of his coordinators and hired Gus Malzahn as the team’s new OC and Tony White to lead the defense. Additionally, FSU hauled in 23 transfers, including expected starting QB Thomas Castellanos.

6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (37)

Georgia Tech will quietly be a legitimate contender for the ACC title in the 2025 campaign. The Yellow Jackets are returning 64% of its total production from last season, headlined by dual-threat QB Haynes King.

The 2025 season will be Haynes’ sixth and final year at Georgia Tech. Further, Georgia Tech is returning star running back Jamal Haynes, who racked up 944 rushing yards last season. The Yellow Jackets will have to find a way to make up for the loss WR Eric Singleton, who transferred to Auburn this offseason.

7. Duke Blue Devils (38)

Head coach Manny Diaz had a standout first season in the driver’s seat at Duke, finishing the regular season with a 9-3 record. Now, Diaz will look to replicate his success in his sophomore effort. It won’t be easy.

Duke lost its starting quarterback, Maalik Murphy, from last season to the transfer portal. Alas, the Blue Devils picked up former Tulane QB Darian Mensah just two days later. Expectations are high for Mensah, who recorded 2,723 passing yards and 22 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions last season.

8. Syracuse Orange (40)

Syracuse head coach Fran Brown has his work cut out for him entering his second year with the program. The Orange are returning just 37% of their production on offense from last season.

Most notably, the team lost starting quarterback Kyle McCord to the NFL Draft. McCord led college football in passing yards per game last season. Brown must find a new star to lead his high-powered offense, or the Orange could be in for a long season.

9. NC State Wolfpack (42)

NC State has a chance to make waves this season. While the Wolfpack clearly isn’t the favorite to win the ACC, they have the pieces to pick up a few surprising wins along the way. Most notably, NC State is running it back with QB CJ Bailey, who had a breakout freshman season last year.

NC State is hoping to maximize Bailey’s potential. In December, the program fired offensive coordinator Robert Anae and replaced him with quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper. As Bailey’s mentor, Roper should have an intimate understanding of Bailey’s strengths and weaknesses.

10. Pittsburgh Panthers (44)

Pittsburgh’s 2024 season was a tale of two halves. The team electrified the college football world when it started the season on a seven-game win streak. Alas, the Panthers’ momentum quickly sputtered and they lost their final six games of the season.

Pittsburgh is aiming to avoid the same fate in the upcoming season. The program is returning 64% of its production from last season, while adding 15 players via the NCAA Transfer Portal.

11. North Carolina Tar Heels (53)
12. Boston College Eagles (60)
13. Virginia Tech Hokies (65)
14. Virginia Cavaliers (77)
15. California Golden Bears (88)
16. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (99)
17. Stanford Cardinal (122)

— On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this article.