ACC Media Preseason Football Poll Released

ACC Media Days occurred over the last weekend and the media that were present submitted their ACC Preseason Football Poll. The defending National Champion Florida State Seminoles were picked to win the conference and the Atlantic Division. The Miami Hurricanes were picked to win the Coastal Division, but the vote within the Coastal was very divided.

Live Feed

Canes Warning

This is another year of change within the Atlantic Coast Conference as the University of Louisville joins to replace the departing Maryland Terrapins. This is also the first year that Notre Dame will play 5 ACC opponents.

For the Big Four, the poll offers differing views. Duke was picked second in the Coastal overall, but collected more first place votes than any other Coastal division team.

Jul 20, 2014; Greensboro, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Marquise Williams addresses the media during the ACC football media day at the Grandover Resort. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

North Carolina finished fourth in the Coastal voting, but collected the second most first place votes within the division. That suggests the top of the Coastal division will be a dogfight that will include the Tar Heels, Blue Devils, Virginia Tech Hokies, and Miami Hurricanes.

NC State finished fifth in the Atlantic division voting, a good sign for a team that struggled in divisional play last year. The Wolfpack should be more settled in Coach Dave Doeren’s second year.

Oct 12, 2013; Starkville, MS, USA; Bowling Green Falcons head coach Dave Clawson during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Wake Forest was picked last in the Atlantic division. This is likely because of the transition between old coach Jim Grobe and new coach Dave Clawson. It is also a product of Wake’s disappointing season last year. Clawson fielded high powered offenses at Richmond and Bowling Green, so a quick turnaround by Wake is possible and this prediction is not set in stone.

Here is a summary of the voting:

League championship
Team Votes
1. FSU, 104
t2. Clemson, 2
t2. Va. Tech, 2

Coastal Division
First-place votes in parentheses

Team Points
1. Miami (26), 614
2. Duke (33), 597
3. Va. Tech (23), 571
4. UNC (27), 570
5. Ga. Tech (1), 322
6. Pitt (2), 319
7. UVa, 142

Atlantic Division
First-place votes in parentheses.

Team Points
1. FSU (109), 780
2. Clemson (3), 660
3. Louisville, 564
4. Syracuse, 368
5. N.C. State, 326
6. BC, 301
7. Wake, 136