College football writer Brad Crawford on Virginia Tech football in 2025. Whoever he is ?

Going into the 2025 season, one of the bigger unknown football teams in the ACC is Virginia Tech. The Hokies lost a ton of talent in the portal and players moving on to the NFL. Some key players are returning, starting with quarterback Kyron Drones. It's always nice to have an experienced signal caller coming back.

The schedule for the 2025 season is certainly going to be tougher than the one Brent Pry and his team had in 2024. Two SEC teams are the first two games, then the ACC schedule has the chance to provide some close game and if there's one thing we know about Virginia Tech under Pry, one-score games are a problem.

It's no secret that Pry enters the 2025 season on the hot seat. He still needs to hire an offensive coordinator after Tyler Bowen left last week for Ohio State and he has a new defensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

Last off-season the hype train for the Hokies was real. This upcoming season, you get the feeling that expectations are going the other way. One college football writer made his game-by-game picks for each ACC school next season and he has the Hokies having a better season record-wise than they had in 2024.

Brad Crawford  predicted each game of all ACC schools in 2025 and he had Virginia Tech going 6-6, which is surprising, to say the least (for the record he has 7-5, but that's not what his predictions say). Here is the breakdown of all 12 games by wins and losses.

Going into the 2025 season, one of the bigger unknown football teams in the ACC is Virginia Tech. The Hokies lost a ton of talent in the portal and players moving on to the NFL. Some key players are returning, starting with quarterback Kyron Drones. It's always nice to have an experienced signal caller coming back.

The schedule for the 2025 season is certainly going to be tougher than the one Brent Pry and his team had in 2024. Two SEC teams are the first two games, then the ACC schedule has the chance to provide some close game and if there's one thing we know about Virginia Tech under Pry, one-score games are a problem.

It's no secret that Pry enters the 2025 season on the hot seat. He still needs to hire an offensive coordinator after Tyler Bowen left last week for Ohio State and he has a new defensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

Last off-season the hype train for the Hokies was real. This upcoming season, you get the feeling that expectations are going the other way. One college football writer made his game-by-game picks for each ACC school next season and he has the Hokies having a better season record-wise than they had in 2024.

Brad Crawford predicts Virginia Tech football wins six games in 2025

Brad Crawford of 247Sports predicted each game of all ACC schools in 2025 and he had Virginia Tech going 6-6, which is surprising, to say the least (for the record he has 7-5, but that's not what his predictions say). Here is the breakdown of all 12 games by wins and losses.

Wins

Vanderbilt (Home)

Old Dominion (Home)

Wofford (Home)

Wake Forest (Home)

California (Home)

Virginia (Away)

Losses

South Carolina (Atlanta)

North Carolina State (Away)

Georgia Tech (Away)

Louisville (Home)

Florida State (Away)

Miami (Home)

It's hard to argue with this breakdown. A 6-6 season seems like it's what is becoming the norm in Blacksburg, which is disappointing. One note here is he has the Hokies heading to Charlottesville on Thanksgiving Weekend at 5-6 and needing a win to become bowl-eligible. It can't happen three years in a row, can it?

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ACC OPENING WIN TOTALS ODDS
Clemson 9.5
Florida State 9.5
Miami, Florida 9.5
Louisville 8.5
NC State 8.5
Virginia Tech 8.5
SMU 9.5
North Carolina 7.5
Syracuse 7.5
California 6.5
Georgia Tech 5.5
Pittsburgh 5.5
Duke 5.5
Boston College 4.5
Virginia 4.5
Wake Forest 4.5
Stanford 3.5

These are off Vegas Insider.

Thank you Snap. I'd love to know what book has posted win totals for every ACC team. FD has for Louisville, Miami, UNC, and Clemson. But that's it. DK has UNC, Miami, and Clemson. Caesars has UNC. MGM, Bet365, and ESPN Bet have nothing. I don't have Circa...so maybe there?

tripleoption said:

Thank you Snap. I'd love to know what book has posted win totals for every ACC team. FD has for Louisville, Miami, UNC, and Clemson. But that's it. DK has UNC, Miami, and Clemson. Caesars has UNC. MGM, Bet365, and ESPN Bet have nothing. I don't have Circa...so maybe there?

Just watch out as they are Vegas insider, which are dodgy but as soon as I get them off a Proper Book I will post them.

2-10 team is over under 9.5 like last year never happened

uncle vito said:

2-10 team is over under 9.5 like last year never happened

Yeh Sorry that's Vegas Insider for you, even NC State and VT at 8.5 doesn't look right.

I'd say you will see a different FSU this year, the books are covering them at +1600 for the ACC, which is saying that they don't know, but not taken a chance. Boston going the other way, which leads me to believe that their new QB could turn them around. I liked Thomas Castellanos last season and he is going back home to Florida is a good move, He played well against the Seminoles last season and Id say that is when they made a  moved for him. He got Injured late in the season, that's when he got the envelope.  Then the wheels came off Boston.

ACC’s Easiest, Toughest Football Schedules for 2025 BY Athlon Sports.

Below is there ranking of next season’s ACC schedules, starting from the easiest down to the most difficult.

(*Denotes neutral-site game.)

1. Virginia
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Coastal Carolina
Saturday, Sept. 6 at NC State
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. William & Mary
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Stanford
Friday, Sept. 26 vs. Florida State
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Louisville
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. Washington State
Saturday, Oct. 25 at North Carolina
Saturday, Nov. 1 at California
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Wake Forest
Saturday, Nov. 15 at Duke
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Virginia Tech

Coming off a third consecutive losing season under coach Tony Elliott, the 2025 schedule sets up well for a Cavaliers turnaround. Virginia avoids Clemson, SMU, Miami and Syracuse, and three of its nonconference games are in Charlottesville, none of which are particularly intimidating. In a schedule quirk, UVA’s game at fellow ACC school NC State is considered a nonconference game.

Virginia’s two toughest games, against Louisville and Duke, are both on the road, but the Cavs are also set to play all four teams that finished below them in the 2024 standings: Cal, Wake Forest, Stanford and FSU.

2. Wake Forest
Friday, Aug. 29 vs. Kennesaw State
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Western Carolina
Thursday, Sept. 11 vs. NC State
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Georgia Tech
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Virginia Tech
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Oregon State
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. SMU
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Florida State
Saturday, Nov. 8 at Virginia
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. North Carolina
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Delaware
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Duke

The Demon Deacons drew three top-10 teams a season ago, but there’s a chance they only will play one top-25 team in all of 2025. Wake Forest doesn’t have to play Miami or Clemson, and SMU comes to Winston-Salem. There is a nonconference, cross-country trip to Oregon State, but that’s a venue former Washington State coach Jake Dickert knows well.

Most of the Demon Deacons’ schedule will be played in North Carolina or neighboring Virginia, so travel shouldn’t be much of a concern. Wake Forest’s nonconference schedule is light, especially compared to last season, and the ACC slate could be worse.

3. North Carolina
Monday, Sept. 1 vs. TCU
Saturday, Sept. 6 at Charlotte
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Richmond
Saturday, Sept. 20 at UCF
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Clemson
Thursday, Oct. 16 at California
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Virginia
Friday, Oct. 31 at Syracuse
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Stanford
Saturday, Nov. 15 at Wake Forest
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Duke
Saturday, Nov. 29 at NC State

Bill Belichick could see success in his first year at Chapel Hill in large part due to the Tar Heels’ schedule. All but one of their toughest games, against TCU, Clemson, Syracuse and Duke, will be played at home, and the nonconference schedule isn’t overly intimidating. The visit from the Horned Frogs to begin the year will be the biggest test until the Tigers come to town.

North Carolina only leaves the Tar Heel State three times all year, and two of those games are against teams that finished near the bottom of their respective conferences in California and UCF. UNC also has a week off to prepare for the Tigers and its cross-country road trip to Cal.

4. California
Saturday, Aug. 30 at Oregon State
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Texas Southern
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Minnesota
Saturday, Sept. 20 at San Diego State
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Boston College
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Duke
Thursday, Oct. 16 vs. North Carolina
Thursday, Oct. 23 at Virginia Tech
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Virginia
Saturday, Nov. 8 at Louisville
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Stanford
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. SMU

The Golden Bears started off strong in their first season in the ACC but never regained their footing after a loss to Florida State. Cal’s 2025 schedule is even more favorable, and its toughest games aren’t until later in the year. Justin Wilcox’s team dodges both Clemson and Miami and draws SMU at home in the season finale.

A trip to Louisville could prove challenging, and two of the Golden Bears’ nonconference games are also on the road, though both are on the West Coast. Cal only travels east of the Mississippi River twice next season compared to four such trips last year.

5. NC State
Thursday, Aug. 28 vs. East Carolina
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Virginia
Thursday, Sept. 11 at Wake Forest
Saturday, Sept. 20 at Duke
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Virginia Tech
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Campbell
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Notre Dame
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Pittsburgh
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Georgia Tech
Saturday, Nov. 15 at Miami
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. Florida State
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. North Carolina

The Wolfpack’s 2025 schedule kicks off with a bang against East Carolina, the team it lost to in a raucous bowl game punctuated by a brawl. NC State plunges into ACC play after that, but it won’t be tested early like it was in 2024 with September games against Tennessee and Clemson.

The toughest games for coach Dave Doeren’s team are later in the year at Notre Dame and Miami. Trips to Duke and Pitt won’t be easy, either, but the home slate is manageable, and the Wolfpack avoids Clemson, SMU and Louisville.

6. Duke
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Elon
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Illinois
Saturday, Sept. 13 at Tulane
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. NC State
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Syracuse
Saturday, Oct. 4 at California
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. Georgia Tech
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Clemson
Saturday, Nov. 8 at UConn
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Virginia
Saturday, Nov. 22 at North Carolina
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Wake Forest

The Blue Devils had their best season in over a decade in Manny Diaz’s first season in Durham, and their 2025 schedule sets up well for sustained success. Though Duke’s nonconference slate includes a home game against a dangerous Illinois team and trips to Tulane and UConn, the ACC schedule is very manageable.

SMU and Miami, two of the teams that beat the Blue Devils in 2024, are not on their schedule. Duke does go on the road to Syracuse and Clemson, but Georgia Tech is its only other opponent that finished in the top half of the league last season. The Blue Devils play five of the eight ACC teams that finished with a losing record.

7. Georgia Tech
Saturday, Aug. 30 at Colorado
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Gardner-Webb
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Clemson
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Temple
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Wake Forest
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. Virginia Tech
Saturday, Oct. 18 at Duke
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Syracuse
Saturday, Nov. 1 at NC State
Saturday, Nov. 15 at Boston College
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Pittsburgh
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Georgia*

The Yellow Jackets were disruptors in 2024, upsetting Florida State in the opener, handing Miami its first loss and giving Georgia all it could handle in an eight-overtime thriller. The 2025 schedule falls favorably for Georgia Tech, which avoids SMU and Miami and draws Clemson, Syracuse and Pittsburgh at home.

A Week 1 game at Colorado could prove challenging for coach Brent Key’s team, and the finale against the rival Bulldogs hasn’t gone well for the Yellow Jackets lately. But all things considered, Georgia Tech is well positioned to take a step forward in the ACC hierarchy next season given its schedule.

8. Louisville
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Eastern Kentucky
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. James Madison
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Bowling Green
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Virginia
Saturday, Oct. 17 at Miami
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Boston College
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Virginia Tech
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. California
Friday, Nov. 14 vs. Clemson
Saturday, Nov. 22 at SMU
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Kentucky

Once again, the Cardinals face the top three teams in the conference in Clemson, Miami and SMU. Only one of those games will be played in Louisville, but Jeff Brohm’s team fared well against the ACC’s best a season ago, upsetting the Tigers and playing both the Hurricanes and Mustangs within one score.

Outside of those three games and a road trip to play Pittsburgh, the Cardinals’ schedule is relatively forgiving. All four of their nonconference games are at home, and only one is against a Power 4 school in Kentucky. Even then, Louisville routed the Wildcats last season for their first win in the rivalry since 2017.

9. Virginia Tech
Sunday, Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina*
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Vanderbilt
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Old Dominion
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Wofford
Saturday, Sept. 27 at NC State
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Wake Forest
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Georgia Tech
Thursday, Oct. 23 vs. California
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Louisville
Saturday, Nov. 15 at Florida State
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Miami
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Virginia

The Hokies’ schedule starts out hot with a neutral-site game against South Carolina in Atlanta. Virginia Tech faces a second consecutive SEC opponent in Vanderbilt the following week in Blacksburg. The nonconference schedule softens before ACC play begins in late September.

The good news for Brent Pry and the Hokies about their league schedule is they only face one team that beat them in 2024: Miami. Virginia Tech avoids Clemson and SMU, and its two toughest ACC games, against the Hurricanes and Louisville, are both at home. The Hokies’ most daunting away game is a midseason trip to Georgia Tech.

10. Pittsburgh
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Duquesne
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Central Michigan
Saturday, Sept. 13 at West Virginia
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Louisville
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Boston College
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Florida State
Saturday, Oct. 18 at Syracuse
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. NC State
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Stanford
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Notre Dame
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Georgia Tech
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Miami

The Panthers collapsed last season after a 7-0 start, losing their last six games. They could see a similar backslide in 2025 given the difficulty down the stretch. Pitt avoids all but one of the teams it lost to last season, but its schedule still could present problems.

The final three games of the year are against Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Miami. That’s the national championship runner-up Irish and CFP hopeful Hurricanes coming to town, plus a trip to play the feisty Yellow Jackets. Coach Pat Narduzzi’s Panthers also play at rival West Virginia and Syracuse and open up ACC play at home against Louisville.

11. SMU
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. East Texas A&M
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Baylor
Saturday, Sept. 13 at Missouri State
Saturday, Sept. 20 at TCU
Saturday Oct. 4 vs. Syracuse
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. Stanford
Saturday, Oct. 18 at Clemson
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Wake Forest
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Miami
Saturday, Nov. 8 at Boston College
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Louisville
Saturday, Nov. 29 at California

After running the table in their inaugural year in the ACC, the Mustangs have a tough draw in 2025. SMU avoided Clemson, Miami and Syracuse in the 2024 regular season, but coach Rhett Lashlee’s team will face all three in the fall. That includes a trip to Memorial Stadium to play the Tigers, who defeated SMU in the conference title game.

The Mustangs’ nonconference schedule also includes two tough games against in-state rivals. Baylor, which has won 13 in a row against SMU, comes to Dallas this year. The Mustangs also travel to Fort Worth for their annual bout with TCU.

12. Boston College
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Fordham
Saturday, Sept. 6 at Michigan State
Saturday, Sept. 13 at Stanford
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. California
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Pittsburgh
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. Clemson
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. UConn
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Louisville
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Notre Dame
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. SMU
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Georgia Tech
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Syracuse

The Eagles’ 2025 schedule is backloaded with home games, but they’ll be hosting two of the ACC’s top teams in Clemson and SMU, in addition to Notre Dame, during that stretch. Boston College has lengthy losing streaks to the Tigers (12 games) and Fighting Irish (eight games) and lost to SMU last season.

Coach Bill O’Brien’s team also has difficult road games against Pittsburgh, Louisville and Syracuse. Though the Eagles defeated the Orange in 2024, they lost to the Cardinals and finished just 1-4 in away games after beating FSU in the opener.

13. Stanford
Saturday, Aug. 23 at Hawaii
Saturday, Sept. 6 at BYU
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Boston College
Saturday, Sept. 20 at Virginia
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. San Jose State
Saturday, Oct. 11 at SMU
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. Florida State
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Miami
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Pittsburgh
Saturday, Nov. 8 at North Carolina
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. California
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Notre Dame

After a fourth consecutive three-win season, the Cardinal schedule isn’t promising. They’re on the road for three of their first four games, and they’ll travel as far west as Hawaii and as far east as Miami this year.

Stanford also plays at SMU, and its nonconference schedule includes a trip to BYU and a visit from Notre Dame. Along with the Hurricanes, those are three projected top-25 teams. Between travel strain and strength of schedule, Troy Taylor faces an uphill battle to get the Cardinal to a bowl game.

14. Miami
Sunday, Aug. 31 vs. Notre Dame
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Bethune-Cookman
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. South Florida
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Florida
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Florida State
Friday, Oct. 17 vs. Louisville
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Stanford
Saturday, Nov. 1 at SMU
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Syracuse
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. NC State
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Virginia Tech
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Pittsburgh

The Hurricanes don’t have a game outside of the Sunshine State until November, but they will be tested before then. Miami renews its rivalry with national champion runner-up Notre Dame in the opener and also hosts Florida, a team it beat soundly on the road to open up the 2024 campaign.

Coach Mario Cristobal and the ’Canes are on the road three times in the final month of the season, starting at SMU and wrapping the regular season with back-to-back away games against Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. Louisville and Syracuse, which knocked Miami out of College Football Playoff contention a season ago, also travel to Hard Rock Stadium in 2025.

15. Clemson
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. LSU
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Troy
Saturday, Sept. 13 at Georgia Tech
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Syracuse
Saturday, Oct. 4 at North Carolina
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Boston College
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. SMU
Saturday Nov. 1 vs. Duke
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Florida State
Friday, Nov. 14 at Louisville
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Furman
Saturday, Nov. 29 at South Carolina

The ACC champions once again have a target on their back heading into the season, but two of their toughest games are out of conference. Clemson opens the year at home against LSU and wraps up on the road against in-state rival South Carolina, which has won two of the past three meetings.

There are some tricky games in league play on deck for Dabo Swinney and Co., including an ACC championship rematch with SMU and a visit from Syracuse. The Tigers also travel to take on Georgia Tech and Louisville, the only ACC team they lost to in the 2024 regular season.

16. Florida State
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Alabama
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. East Texas A&M
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Kent State
Friday, Sept. 26 at Virginia
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Miami
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. Pittsburgh
Saturday, Oct. 18 at Stanford
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Wake Forest
Saturday, Nov. 8 at Clemson
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Virginia Tech
Friday, Nov. 21 at NC State
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Florida

The Seminoles’ falling flat on their face in 2024 came as a shock, but expectations have been lowered for the coming season, especially considering their grueling schedule. Right out of the gate, Florida State will be tested with a visit from Alabama, and the regular-season finale is on the road at rival Florida, another projected top-25 team from the SEC.

The ACC schedule offers little reprieve for coach Mike Norvell. FSU hosts Miami, plays at Clemson and travels out west to take on Stanford, its first cross-country road trip since the ACC expanded.

17. Syracuse
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Tennessee*
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. UConn
Friday, Sept. 12 vs. Colgate
Saturday, Sept. 20 at Clemson
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Duke
Saturday, Oct. 4 at SMU
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. Pittsburgh
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Georgia Tech
Friday, Oct. 31 vs. North Carolina
Saturday, Nov. 8 at Miami
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Notre Dame
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Boston College

On the heels of one of the best seasons in recent years, the Orange have a daunting schedule both in and out of conference on the horizon. Syracuse opens with a neutral-site game against Tennessee in Atlanta and plays at Notre Dame later in the year. The Orange are also on the road for games against Clemson and SMU. That’s four games against CFP teams, none of which will be played at home.

Syracuse also plays at Miami and faces two of the three teams it lost to in 2024 — Pittsburgh and Boston College — though both games are at the JMA Wireless Dome. Throw in another trip to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech, and the Orange have their work cut out to replicate the success they had in coach Fran Brown’s first year on the job.

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ESPN'S 2025 Way-Too-Early college football Top 25 rankings (ACC Teams).

7. Clemson Tigers
2024 record: 10-4, 7-1 ACC

Key returning players: QB Cade Klubnik, WR Antonio Williams, WR Bryant Wesco Jr., LB Sammy Brown, LB Wade Woodaz, DL T.J. Parker, DL Peter Woods, OT Blake Miller

Key losses: RB Phil Mafah, LB Barrett Carter, S R.J. Mickens, TE Jake Briningstool, G Marcus Tate, DL Payton Page

2025 outlook: Maybe Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is doing it the right way, and we were all wrong. Swinney caught plenty of flak for not utilizing the transfer portal after his team's ugly 34-3 loss to Georgia in the opener. However, the Tigers rebounded to win another ACC title and reach the CFP. They'll undoubtedly be the team to beat in the league in 2025, with Klubnik, Williams, Woodaz, Parker, Woods and Miller all electing to return for another season. With Williams, Wesco and T.J. Moore coming back, Clemson's passing game might be even better. Finding a No. 1 tailback, after Mafah's eligibility ended and Jay Haynes tore his ACL in the ACC championship game, will be a priority in the spring. The defense will have a new leader after Swinney fired coordinator Wes Goodwin and replaced him with Penn State's Tom Allen. And guess what? Clemson signed three players from the portal: edge rushers Jeremiah Alexander (Alabama) and Will Heldt (Purdue) and receiver Tristan Smith (Southeast Missouri State).

15. SMU Mustangs
2024 record: 11-3, 8-0 ACC

Key returning players: QB Kevin Jennings, S Isaiah Nwokobia, G Logan Parr, OT Savion Byrd, OT PJ Williams, S Ahmaad Moses, CB Jaelyn Davis-Robinson

Key losses: RB Brashard Smith, DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, C Jakai Clark, DE Elijah Roberts, LB Kobe Wilson, WR Key'Shawn Smith

2025 outlook: After reaching the ACC title game and the CFP in their first season in the league, the Mustangs will have plenty of work to do in the offseason to get back into contention. The good news is that quarterback Jennings, despite a rough performance in a 38-10 loss to Penn State in a CFP first-round game, is returning. The bad news: There are plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball departing. Leading rusher Brashard Smith, leading receivers Roderick Daniels Jr. and Key'Shawn Smith, and top defensive linemen Roberts and Harrison-Hunte are all departing. SMU coach Rhett Lashlee is bringing in at least a dozen new players through the portal -- quarterback Tyler Van **** (Wisconsin), center Addison Nichols (Arkansas) and defensive end DJ Warner (Kansas) are among the most notable.

20. Louisville Cardinals
2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 ACC

Key returning players: WR Chris Bell, RB Isaac Brown, LB TJ Quinn, LB Stanquan Clark, C Pete Nygra, RB Duke Watson, S D'Angelo Hutchinson, OT Trevonte Sylvester

Key losses: QB Tyler Shough, WR Ja'Corey Brooks, DE Ashton Gillotte, DE Ramon Puryear, CB Quincy Riley, S M.J. Griffin, S Tamarion McDonald, G Michael Gonzalez

2025 outlook: The Cardinals lost four games for the second straight season under Jeff Brohm, but there's no question the 2024 campaign could have been much better. Louisville dropped three games by seven points -- against Notre Dame, SMU and Miami -- then somehow lost at Stanford 38-35 on Nov. 16. Brohm landed former USC quarterback Miller Moss to lead the offense, and Brown is a blossoming star after breaking Lamar Jackson's freshman rushing record with 1,173 yards to go with 11 touchdowns. The offensive line should be a strength, even after left tackle Monroe Mills transferred to Virginia. The Cardinals have added 20 players from the portal to shore up both sides of the ball, including top defensive end Clev Lubin (Coastal Carolina), linebacker Darius Thomas (Western Kentucky) and cornerback Jabari Mack (Jacksonville State).

23. Miami Hurricanes
2024 record: 10-3, 6-2 ACC

Top returning players: RB Mark Fletcher Jr., RB Jordan Lyle, OT Markel Bell, G Matthew McCoy, DE Rueben Bain Jr., CB OJ Frederique Jr., OT Francis Mauigoa

Key losses: QB Cam Ward, OT Jalen Rivers, WR Xavier Restrepo, WR Jacolby George, WR Isaiah Horton, RB Damien Martinez, TE Elijah Arroyo, LB Francisco Mauigoa, DE Tyler Baron, DL Simeon Barrow Jr., DB Mishael Powell

2025 outlook: The Hurricanes will have to replace much of the core that looked loaded for bear in 2024 but came up short again with a late-season loss at Syracuse. Ward, a Heisman Trophy finalist, won't be easily replaced. Miami is banking on former Georgia starter Carson Beck fully recovering from surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing elbow. He isn't expected to resume throwing until sometime this spring. The Hurricanes will have to restock their receiver room after the top six pass catchers from 2024 left, but they did get CJ Daniels (LSU), one of the top wideouts in the portal. The Hurricanes have also brought in cornerbacks Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Emmanuel Karnley (Arizona) and Ethan O'Connor (Washington State) and safety Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State) to improve a porous secondary. Miami coach Mario Cristobal fired defensive coordinator Lance Guidry and replaced him with Minnesota's Corey Hetherman.

Never see wake at the bottom dead last that's a good heads up