We are embarking on the second year of the new-look ACC with SMU, Stanford, and California. SMU had the best first season in the conference, running the table at 8-0 and advancing to the Championship Game before falling to Clemson. Stanford and Cal struggled in their first seasons, with each team going 2-6.
As we look ahead to Year 2 of the conference with the three new teams, it appears on paper that once again, it’s going to be a top-heavy conference as some teams are going through transitions with new coaches. Let’s not forget how much the transfer portal has played in college sports with large amounts of roster turnover.
How things will shake out in the ACC remains to be seen, but some things are clear: some teams are elite, some are contenders, some are possible contenders, and some have no chance. Let’s look at the teams that have no chance of winning the conference in 2025.
Stanford
It’s been a busy off-season for the Cardinal who moved on from coach Troy Taylor after two years at the school abd compiling a 6-18 record. GM Andrew Luck hired former NFL coach Frank Reich for one year and gone is a lot of talent that was there last year. It seems like it’s going to be a long rebuild for Stanford who will get a year from Reich on the sideline and then move on to their next coach. Not great.
Wake Forest
Another school that went through a coaching change when Jake Dickert replaced Dave Clawson. The former Washington State coach has the task of turning the Demon Deacons around, but it won’t happen over night. One thing they will be is a tougher team under Dickert and improving on two wins from last fall in ACC play would be surprising. Dickert, however, will turn things around quicker than a lot of people think in this day and age of the transfer portal.
Virginia
This is a big season for the Cavaliers under Tony Elliott, and it feels like bowl-game or bust in Charlottesville. Last season, they were on track for six wins and a bowl game, but they stumbled down the stretch and needed a win over Virginia Tech on Thanksgiving Weekend, but again lost the Commonwealth Clash. North Texas transfer Chandler Morris takes the reins under center, and a bowl game is very likely this year with an improved roster in some areas, but it’s not enough to get them out of the no chance group.
California
The Golden Bears lost quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who flipped to Indiana in the Big Ten, leaving them scrambling. Cal opens the season with three of their first five games on the road and makes two cross-country trips to Boston College and Virginia Tech. They also have North Carolina at home and host SMU the final weekend. It’s tough seeing the Golden Bears becoming bowl-eligible, never mind contending in the ACC.