Continuing with our tiers for the ACC in 2025 for football, we first looked at teams that don’t have a chance of winning the conference next fall, which was rather a not-so-surprising list when all was said and done. Two of the three new members in 2024 were in the group and expected to be down at the bottom again.
In the tier right above those schools is the “possible” tier for schools who could make a run at the ACC Championship if a lot of things go right for them, and in reality, things would have to go perfectly for them. It’s possible, and here are some teams that would fall into that category.
Florida State
Does anyone really think the Seminoles are going to finish at the bottom of the standings again? Highly unlikely, and it would be shocking if FSU did not even become bowl-eligible. Boston College transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos has been brought in to lead the offense, and it’ll be interesting to see how he fits in there. A strong start to the season is a must for Florida State to get the brutal taste of 2024 out of their system.
Boston College
Castellanios’ old school, BC, is certainly going in the right direction under Bill O’Brien as he enters Year 2 in Chestnut Hill. Could the Eagles surprise after having a good off-season with transfer portal additions? Yes, but fans need to pump the brakes thinking that O’Brien is going to turn them into Ohio State or Georgia. This is a perfect case for a team that, if everything breaks right, they could be in the mix in the end.
Duke
Year 1 of Manny Diaz at Duke was a good one, and gone is QB Maalik Murphy is on the move again, this time transferring to Oregon State. The Blue Devils do return some defensive starters with experience and a new signal caller in Darian Menash from Tulane. If things go well early on, this is a team that could be a dark horse when the dust settles. A lot would have to go right for them, but it’s possible.
Virginia Tech
One year after a very disappointing 2024 season that had so much hype and hope going into it, things went sideways in Week 1 against Vanderbilt and never got back on track. A talented roster was gutted by players heading for the NFL and the transfer portal. There were some interesting players added through the transfer portal, but the season hinges on the health of quarterback Kyron Drones and backup Pop Watson.
Brent Pry faces a vital season in Blacksburg, and he enters with two new coordinators and a new offensive line coach, along with a much more difficult schedule. The backend of the schedule is extremely difficult and doesn’t bode well for the Hokies, but if they can find a way to win at North Carolina State and home against Wake Forest, then things could get interesting for a team with no expectations to compete this fall.
Pittsburgh
After starting the season 7-0 last season, the Panthers dropped their last six games despite averaging 33 points a game. A once-promising season that was going down a special path went off the rails. Eli Holstein returns at quarterback as does Desmond Reid at running back, but until they get things figured out on defense, that’s what keeps them in this tier.
North Carolina State
If you think Virginia Tech fans are up and down with their program, Wolfpack fans feel the same. Two years ago, they nearly got the ACC Championship Game, but they suffered a huge transfer portal loss with wide receiver K.C. Concepcion leaving. There are questions surrounding their defense entering 2025, and like most ACC schools, they enter the season off a disappointing bowl loss in December.