SEASON PREVIEW

INSIDE ONE OF ’S PREMIER CONFERENCES | COMPILED BY PATRICK STEVENS, SPECIAL TO GATEHOUSE MEDIA

what to watch for This season’s most compelling storylines CIRCLE IT ON THE CALENDAR

Games of note throughout the ACC this season

Florida State vs. Alabama (Atlanta), Sept. 2: Is this a playoff preview? Quite pos- sibly. Whoever loses, though, will find themselves with much less margin for error as the season unfolds.

Auburn at Clemson, Sept. 9: It’s the first big post-title test for and Co. as Auburn makes its way to Death Valley for one of the year’s top nonconference games.

Double Pittsburgh at Penn State, Louisville’s , Sept. 9: The Panthers have who won the Heisman a new QB and star safety last season, will again be Jordan Whitehead is sus- a favorite to capture the pended. This is the first of trophy. [associated press file back-to-back monster games photos] for Pitt, which hosts Okla- down Card homa State a week later. Lamar Jackson goes for a Heisman repeat The Louisville junior had a career’s worth of breathtaking plays last season as he became the first Cardinal to ever win the Heisman. But it’s also worth remembering that he was hectored repeatedly Clemson at Louisville, Sept. in losses to Houston, Kentucky and Louisiana State down the stretch. There’s been 16: The first of the three Atlan- a whole offseason for teams to prepare for the electric QB, and he’ll need better tic Division showdowns pitting protection to come close to matching last year’s impressive numbers. two of Clemson, Florida State and Louisville is a rematch of one of last year’s best games. Can Lamar Jackson finally get the best of the Tigers?

Miami at Florida State, Sept. 16: The Hurricanes get an Dabo Swinney Deondre Francois Kurt Benkert Mark Richt early barometer on how they stack up against a top-tier Clemson’s title defense Florida State New QBs in the Coastal Can Miami make team in the conference and in the hunt it to Charlotte? will try to beat Jimbo Fisher Dabo Swinney got the Tigers Only two starting quarter- and the Seminoles for the to the top, and now Clemson The Seminoles took a rela- backs return in the Coastal Back when the ACC instituted first time in eight tries. has its first national title since tive step back the last two Division — Virginia’s Kurt Ben- divisional play in 2005, it 1981 to go with its place as years after winning a national kert and Duke’s Daniel Jones separated Florida State and one of the two most consis- title in 2013 and reaching the — and one of them (Benkert) Miami under the assumption tent programs in the country playoff in 2014. Jimbo Fisher’s was benched late in the there was a decent chance the this season. But team is poised to leap back season. The Coastal is always teams would have their share is gone, as is to the top of the conference prone to chaos, and it’s not of league title game match- Clemson at Virginia Tech, tailback and thanks to a bit more of experi- absurd to think of Georgia ups. The Seminoles have Sept. 30: Two of the league’s wideouts and ence (especially on defense Tech, Miami, Pittsburgh or claimed several division titles, most football-centric schools Mike Williams, so it will be up and with second-year start- Virginia Tech claiming the but the Hurricanes are still meet in a rematch of last to a new set of Clemson stars ing QB Deondre Francois) division this time around. Even seeking their first appearance year’s league title game. By to maintain the program’s and Clemson losing so much North Carolina, which was in the ACC title game. Even the time September ends, place in the top 10 nationally. of its championship bunch. cleaned by graduation and with the early departure of QB both will have a solid sense of Given the recruiting classes The offensive line is a bit of early entry, has an offensive Brad Kaaya, though, there’s their identities for the season. Swinney has stacked on top a concern, but if it can hold system that will make it enough in place for Mark Richt of each other, don’t expect a up Florida State looks like the dangerous. and Co. to have a decent shot major dip. ACC’s favorite. at finally making its debut in the ACC’s signature football event. Florida State at Clemson, Nov. 11: The winner of this game has eventually gone on PLAYERS TO WATCH A LOOK AT TOP RETURNING STARS Number to know to win the Atlantic Division every year since 2009. Unless • TB Cam Akers, Florida State: • WR , Clemson: The • WR Quadree Henderson, 9 Starters back on both Louisville can be a spoiler, Somebody needs to fill Dalvin deep threat had the luxury of Pittsburgh: Henderson has sides of the ball for Syracuse, it will probably remain true Cook’s production in the Semi- being a complementary option demonstrated he’s a superb which enters its second year this season. noles’ offense, and Akers is earlier in his career. Now, he’ll threat as a return man and under Dino Babers. The Orange one of the most well-regarded be one of the top players in a as a change-of-pace rusher. improved considerably on OTHER NOTABLE GAMES recruits in the league. It Tiger offense hoping to main- Coach Pat Narduzzi would like offense but struggled mightily Louisville at N.C. State, Oct. 5 might not take long for him to tain its high level of efficiency. to see him emerge as a more on defense. Virginia Tech at Georgia assume a large role. complete wideout. Tech, Nov. 11

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