ACC Football Preview: 2025 Season Predictions, Records, and Rankings

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports

As the college football season approaches, the ACC and its affiliated programs are set for a rollercoaster year filled with rising stars, rebuilt rosters, and title hopes for a select few. From Clemson’s dominant, undefeated run to a flurry of struggling programs like Wake Forest, Stanford, and Cal, the landscape of the 2025 campaign promises stark contrasts in performance. With playoff contenders such as SMU, Georgia Tech, and Miami vying for a shot at glory and traditional powerhouses like Florida State and NC State facing uncertain futures, this comprehensive season preview breaks down the projected paths for all 17 teams—including independents like Notre Dame and hopeful outsiders like Boise State.

Boston College Eagles

Game 1 vs Fordham- Win

Game 2 at Michigan State- Loss

Game 3 at Stanford- Win

Game 4 vs California- Win

Game 5 at Pitt- Loss

Game 6 vs Clemson- Loss

Game 7 vs UConn- Win

Game 8 at Louisville- Loss

Game 9 vs Notre Dame- Loss

Game 10 vs SMU- Loss

Game 11 vs Georgia Tech- Loss

Game 12 at Syracuse- Loss

4-8 (2-6)

Don’t expect much from BC this year, they lost a lot of talent and didn’t get enough to replace it. They might be able to make a bowl game, but that is the best I see them doing.

California Golden Bears

Game 1 at Oregon State- Loss

Game 2 vs Texas Southern- Win

Game 3 vs Minnesota- Loss

Game 4 at San Diego State- Win

Game 5 at Boston College- Loss

Game 6 vs Duke- Loss

Game 7 vs North Carolina- Loss

Game 8 at Virginia Tech- Loss

Game 9 vs Virginia- Loss

Game 10 at Louisville- Loss

Game 11 at Stanford- Loss

Game 12 vs SMU- Loss

2-10 (0-8)

Prepare for a rough year for the Bears. They went 6-6 last year (although they were close to doing much better) and lost a TON of talent. Their star QB and RB are gone to the portal, and I predict dark times for Cal coming up.

Clemson Tigers

Game 1 vs LSU- Win

Game 2 vs Troy- Win

Game 3 at Georgia Tech- Win

Game 4 vs Syracuse- Win

Game 5 at North Carolina- Win

Game 6 at Boston College- Win

Game 7 vs SMU- Win

Game 8 vs Duke- Win

Game 9 vs Florida State- Win

Game 10 at Louisville- Win

Game 11 vs Furman- Win

Game 12 at South Carolina- Win

12-0 (8-0)

This Clemson team has everything you could ask for. A great offense led by a top QB, an elite defense, and a phenomenal Head Coach. They’ve got some difficult games on here, particularly the 1st and last games of the season, but I’ve got Clemson going undefeated, with National Title hopes.

Duke Blue Devils

Game 1 vs Elon- Win

Game 2 vs Illinois- Win

Game 3 at Tulane- Win

Game 4 vs NC State- Win

Game 5 at Syracuse- Win

Game 6 at Cal- Win

Game 7 vs Georgia Tech- Loss

Game 8 at Clemson- Loss

Game 9 at UConn- Win

Game 10 vs Virginia- Win

Game 11 at North Carolina- Win

Game 12 vs Wake Forest- Win

10-2 (6-2)

The Blue Devils had a great portal class, bringing in great QB Darian Mensha, along with talented weapons for him such as Andrel Anthony and Cooper Barkate. They finished 9-3 last year, and with an even better roster I’ve got them at 10-2 this year with a long shot at the CFP, and if they can pull off an upset over Georgia Tech or Clemson, they would very likely be a playoff team.

Florida State Seminoles

Game 1 vs Alabama- Loss

Game 2 vs ET A&M- Win

Game 3 vs Kent State- Win

Game 4 at Virginia- Loss

Game 5 vs Miami- Loss

Game 6 vs Pitt- Loss

Game 7 at Stanford- Win

Game 8 vs Wake Forest- Win

Game 9 at Clemson- Loss

Game 10 vs Virginia Tech- Loss

Game 11 at NC State- Win

Game 12 at Florida- Loss

5-7 (3-5)

After an embarrassment of a 2024 season, the Seminoles look to bounce back with a reshaped roster. I see them being better, but barely. They have a hard non-conference schedule, and making a bowl game will be tricky for them.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Game 1 at Colorado- Win

Game 2 vs Gardner-Webb- Win

Game 3 vs Clemson- Loss

Game 4 vs Temple- Win

Game 5 at Wake Forest- Win

Game 6 vs Virginia Tech- Win

Game 7 at Duke- Win

Game 8 vs Syracuse- Win

Game 9 at NC State- Win

Game 10 at Boston College- Win

Game 11 vs Pitt- Win

Game 12 vs Georgia- Loss

10-2 (7-1)

The Yellow Jackets are a very popular team to make a playoff run going into this season, they are extremely improved with a top 3 QB in the ACC. They will be a great team this year, but I don’t see them beating Georgia or Clemson, so an at large CFP birth seems a bit unlikely, but they could win the ACC.

Louisville Cardinals

Game 1 vs Eastern Kentucky- Win

Game 2 vs James Madison- Win

Game 3 vs Bowling Green- Win

Game 4 at Pitt- Loss

Game 5 vs Virginia- Win

Game 6 at Miami- Loss

Game 7 vs Boston College- Win

Game 8 at Virginia Tech- Win

Game 9 vs California- Win

Game 10 vs Clemson- Loss

Game 11 at SMU- Loss

Game 12 vs Kentucky- Win

8-4 (4-4)

The Cards have some talented players on offense, especially star running back Isaac Brown. However, they are a few pieces away from really competing in the ACC, so I’ve got them with another really solid 8-4 record.

Miami Hurricanes

Game 1 vs Notre Dame- Loss

Game 2 vs Bethune- Win

Game 3 vs South Florida- Win

Game 4 vs Florida- Loss

Game 5 at Florida State- Win

Game 6 vs Louisville- Win

Game 7 vs Stanford- Win

Game 8 at SMU- Loss

Game 9 vs Syracuse- Win

Game 10 vs NC State- Win

Game 11 at Virginia Tech- Win

Game 12 at Pitt- Win

9-3 (7-1)

After having the #1 pick and not even making the playoffs, the Canes really want to make a CFP appearance. They hit the portal hard, but I don’t believe their talent is on par with last years team. They have a hard non-conference, but an easy conference schedule, so it is possible for them to win the ACC and clinch a birth that way.

NC State Wolfpack

Game 1 vs East Carolina- Win

Game 2 vs Virginia- Win

Game 3 at Wake Forest- Win

Game 4 at Duke- Loss

Game 5 vs Virginia Tech- Loss

Game 6 vs Campbell- Win

Game 7 at Notre Dame- Loss

Game 8 at Pitt- Loss

Game 9 vs Georgia Tech- Loss

Game 10 at Miami- Loss

Game 11 vs Florida State- Loss

Game 12 vs North Carolina- Loss

4-8 (1-7)

This is a shame for Wolfpack fans, I don’t hate their roster this year. But they have a tough run of conference games, and I think it’ll be hard to get to 6 wins. It would not shock me if they make a bowl game though, so don’t count out NC State to pull an upset here or there.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Game 1 vs TCU- Loss

Game 2 at Charlotte- Win

Game 3 vs Richmond- Win

Game 4 at UCF- Win

Game 5 vs Clemson- Loss

Game 6 at California- Win

Game 7 vs Virginia- Win

Game 8 at Syracuse- Loss

Game 9 vs Stanford- Win

Game 10 at Wake Forest- Win

Game 11 vs Duke- Loss

Game 12 at NC State- Win

8-4 (5-3)

Not a terrible star for the Belichick era. Tar Heel fans would hope for another win or 2, but the reality is this isn't an elite roster, and coaching in the NFL is a lot different than college. This is a good place to start though, and they should be able to build off this.

Pittsburgh Panthers

Game 1 vs Duquense- Win

Game 2 vs Central Michigan- Win

Game 3 at West Virginia- Loss

Game 4 vs Louisville- Win

Game 5 vs Boston College- Win

Game 6 at Florida State- Win

Game 7 at Syracuse- Win

Game 8 vs NC State- Win

Game 9 at Stanford- Win

Game 10 vs Notre Dame- Loss

Game 11 at Georgia Tech- Loss

Game 12 vs Miami- Loss

8-4 (6-2)

Eli Holstein is one of the most underrated QBs in the country in my opinion, and I really like this roster around him. They have a relatively easy schedule until their final 3 games, where it gets really tricky. If they can find a way to win 2 or 3 out of the 4 games I’ve got them losing, they could be in prime position for a CFP birth.

SMU Mustangs

Game 1 vs ET A&M- Win

Game 2 vs Baylor- Win

Game 3 at Missouri State- Win

Game 4 at TCU- Win

Game 5 vs Syracuse- Win

Game 6 vs Stanford- Win

Game 7 at Clemson- Loss

Game 8 at Wake Forest- Win

Game 9 vs Miami- Win

Game 10 at Boston College- Win

Game 11 vs Louisville- Win

Game 12 at California- Win

11-1 (7-1)

Coming off of the programs first ever playoff birth, expectations are high in Dallas. They return a lot of talent, and they look to make the CFP again. They have a pretty hard schedule, but I’ve got them going 11-1 with a likely playoff spot.

Stanford Cardinal

Game 1 at Hawai’i- Loss

Game 2 at BYU- Loss

Game 3 vs Boston College- Loss

Game 4 at Virginia- Loss

Game 5 vs San Jose State- Win

Game 6 at SMU- Loss

Game 7 vs Florida State- Loss

Game 8 at Miami- Loss

Game 9 vs Pitt- Loss

Game 10 at North Carolina- Loss

Game 11 vs California- Win

Game 12 vs Notre Dame- Loss

2-10 (1-7)

The Cardinal are going to be real bad this year, no way around it. I even have them losing at Hawai’i, which would be very disappointing. I do have them getting a win over rival Cal (both teams are so bad, should be a good game) which is a positive for the fanbase.

Syracuse Orange

Game 1 vs Tennessee- Loss

Game 2 vs UConn- Win

Game 3 vs Colgate- Win

Game 4 at Clemson- Loss

Game 5 vs Duke- Loss

Game 6 at SMU- Loss

Game 7 vs Pitt- Loss

Game 8 at Georgia Tech- Loss

Game 9 vs North Carolina- Loss

Game 10 at Miami- Loss

Game 11 at Notre Dame- Loss

Game 12 vs Boston College- Win

3-9 (1-7)

This pains me to do, but the Orange schedule is just extremely difficult. They have to play UT and ND on top of a very hard conference schedule, consisting of Clemson, Duke, SMU, Georgia Tech, Miami, and other good teams. I love Fran Brown, but this is likely going to be a down year for Syracuse.

Virginia Cavaliers

Game 1 vs Coastal Carolina- Win

Game 2 at NC State- Loss

Game 3 vs William & Mary- Win

Game 4 vs Stanford- Win

Game 5 vs Florida State- Win

Game 6 at Louisville- Loss

Game 7 vs Washington State- Win

Game 8 at North Carolina- Loss

Game 9 at California- Win

Game 10 vs Wake Forest- Win

Game 11 at Duke- Loss

Game 12 vs Virginia Tech- Win

8-4 (5-3)

This is one of the better Virginia rosters we’ve seen in recent years. Veteran QB Chandler Morris should be one of the better ones in the conference, and I believe they can get some wins with him at the helm. They haven’t been great under Tony Elliott, so hopefully they can use this as a building block towards future success.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Game 1 vs South Carolina- Loss

Game 2 vs Vanderbilt- Loss

Game 3 vs Old Dominion- Win

Game 4 vs Wofford- Win

Game 5 at NC State- Win

Game 6 vs Wake Forest- Win

Game 7 at Georgia Tech- Loss

Game 8 vs California- Win

Game 9 vs Louisville- Loss

Game 10 at Florida State- Win

Game 11 vs Miami- Loss

Game 12 at Virginia- Loss

6-6 (4-4)

Kyron Drones is back for his 3rd season as the Hokies starter, and they look to make some noise. They have been hyped up the past couple years, but hardly done anything. I don’t believe this is the year they will breakout though, they open up the season against 2 SEC teams, and their conference schedule isn’t the easiest. They should be solid though, and I’ve got them going 6-6.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Game 1 vs Kennesaw State- Win

Game 2 vs Western Carolina- Win

Game 3 vs NC State- Loss

Game 4 vs Georgia Tech- Loss

Game 5 at Virginia Tech- Loss

Game 6 at Oregon State- Loss

Game 7 vs SMU- Loss

Game 8 at Florida State- Loss

Game 9 at Virginia- Loss

Game 10 vs North Carolina- Loss

Game 11 vs Delaware- Win

Game 12 at Duke- Loss

3-9 (0-8)

Wake Forest has arguably the easiest schedule in the country, but this team is extremely bad and I still only have them getting 3 wins. It’ll be a long year for the 4th best team in North Carolina.

Standings

1. Clemson 8-0 (12-0)

2. Georgia Tech 7-1 (11-1)

3. SMU 7-1 (11-1)

4. Miami 7-1 (9-3)

5. Duke 6-2 (10-2)

6. Pittsburgh 6-2 (8-4)

7. North Carolina 5-3 (8-4)

8. Virginia 5-3 (8-4)

9. Louisville 4-4 (8-4)

10.Virginia Tech 4-4 (6-6)

11. Florida State 3-5 (5-7)

12. Boston College 2-6 (4-8)

13. Syracuse 1-7 (3-9)

14. NC State 1-7 (4-8)

15. Stanford 1-7 (2-10)

16. California 0-8 (2-10)

17. Wake Forest 0-8 (3-9)

ACC Championship - Clemson vs Georgia Tech

Clemson- 37 Georgia Tech- 17

Clemson is just an absolutely elite team this year. Georgia Tech is very talented as well, and to make the ACC Championship they had to have a special year, but Clemson is just too good in my opinion. I’ve got Clemson winning here, and clinching a top 2 seed.

Playoffs

Locks:

- Clemson

50-50:

- SMU

- Georgia Tech

Long shot: 

- Duke

BONUS

I am going to also predict Notre Dame, Washington State, Oregon State, and Boise State, since they are not in a conference that I am making predictions for. 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Game 1 at Miami- Win

Game 2 vs Texas A&M- Win

Game 3 vs Purdue- Win

Game 4 at Arkansas- Win

Game 5 vs Boise State- Win

Game 6 vs NC State- Win

Game 7 vs USC- Win

Game 8 at Boston College- Win

Game 9 vs Navy- Win

Game 10 at Pittsburgh- Win

Game 11 vs Syracuse- Win

Game 12 at Stanford- Win

12-0

The Irish have an easy schedule, so they are definitely expecting to make it back to the CFP. They also have a pretty good team, RB Jeremiyah Love is one of the best players in the country, so they should be able to make some noise again.

Washington State Cougars

Game 1 vs Idaho- Win

Game 2 vs San Diego State- Win

Game 3 at North Texas- Win

Game 4 vs Washington- Loss

Game 5 at Colorado State- Loss

Game 6 at Ole Miss- Loss

Game 7 at Virginia- Loss

Game 8 vs Toledo- Win

Game 9 at Oregon State- Loss

Game 10 vs Louisiana Tech- Win

Game 11 at James Madison- Loss

Game 12 vs Oregon State- Loss

5-7 (0-2)

The Cougs lost a TON this offseason. OC Ben Arbuckle, star QB John Mateer, and a lot of other very important pieces. They might be able to make a bowl game, but I’ve got them falling just short, with 2 losses to the only other Pac 12 team.

Oregon State Beavers

Game 1 vs California- Win

Game 2 vs Fresno State- Win 

Game 3 at Texas Tech- Loss

Game 4 at Oregon- Loss

Game 5 vs Houston- Loss

Game 6 at App State- Win

Game 7 vs Wake Forest- Win

Game 8 vs Lafayette- Win

Game 9 vs Washington State- Win

Game 10 vs Sam Houston- Win

Game 11 at Tulsa- Win

Game 12 at Washington State- Win

9-3 (2-0)

The Beavs have an improved team from last year, and outside of a 3 game stretch they have a pretty easy schedule. This should shape up for a successful year for Oregon State, and a “Pac 2 Championship”.

Boise State Broncos

Game 1 at South Florida- Win

Game 2 vs Eastern Washington- Win

Game 3 at Air Force- Win

Game 4 vs App State- Win

Game 5 at Notre Dame- Loss

Game 6 vs New Mexico- Win

Game 7 vs UNLV- Win

Game 8 at Nevada- Win

Game 9 vs Fresno State- Win

Game 10 at San Diego State- Win

Game 11 vs Colorado State- Win

Game 12 at Utah State- Win

11-1 (7-1)

Coming off a very successful season, I’ve got Boise State having another great season. Yes, they lost their best player of all time, but they return a bunch of talent, and brought in some solid transfers. I’ve got them going 11-1, with a very close loss to ND and, spoiler alert, another CFP birth.

You can find Owen Pannell on X here.

Shop KZA Exclusive offers here.