The signs are in the air that the college football season is about to crank up into full effect with camps opening. We are less than a month away from Week 0 and then just over a month away from Week 1 beginning, which will be James Franklin's first game in charge at Virginia Tech.
On Tuesday, the preseason coaches poll was released, and to nobody's surprise, there was just a handful of ACC schools on the list. As a matter of fact, there were just three teams listed. Is that a surprise to anyone? If shouldn't be if you have been following along.
3 ACC schools crack coaches' preseason poll
Ohio State was first in the coaches poll, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Texas, and Notre Dame. No, Virginia Tech wasn't in the Top 25, but there were just three ACC schools: Miami (No. 7), SMU (No. 20), and Clemson (No. 23).
BREAKING: College Football Preseason Coaches Poll👀https://t.co/gnEe967fmH pic.twitter.com/W2xBYGZWYe
— On3 (@On3) August 4, 2026
For the record, Louisville was the first team out with 156 votes. Joining them in receiving votes were Virginia (40), North Carolina State (13), Florida State (13), Virginia Tech (12), Duke (6), Pittsburgh (4), and California (1).
The SEC led the way with nine teams, followed by the Big Ten with eight, the Big 12 with four, three from the ACC, and one independent, which is Notre Dame.
So here's the thing: are there more teams that deserve to be in the Top 25 from the ACC? The case could be made that Louisville belongs in there over, say, Missouri or Iowa. Virginia Tech plays two of the three ACC teams in the Top 25, SMU and Clemson and both will be on the road.
There is a good chance that once the season gets going and games are played on the field, more ACC teams are going to crack the Top 25. There is no doubt that the SEC and Big Ten are hands down the top two power conferences, with the ACC and Big 12 fighting to stay out of the basement. However, the ACC had a team, Miami, in last season's championship game, and it wouldn't be surprising if they made it there again in 2026. Another season and more ACC disrespect before the ball is even kicked off in late August.
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