Three Teams That Can Win the ACC Championship

The ACC is one of college football's top conferences, and this season looks like an exciting race for the championship. Last year, Miami was the best team in the ACC, but they never got to play in the conference title game because of unusual tiebreaker rules. The Hurricanes still made the College Football Playoff and reached the national championship game, where they lost to Indiana. Now, all eyes are on which teams can challenge Miami and win the ACC crown in the year ahead.

The Miami Hurricanes are once again the favorites to win the ACC. They lost their starting quarterback, Carson Beck, who left for the NFL Draft, but the team quickly found a replacement. They brought in Darian Mensah, a transfer from Duke, along with his wide receiver teammate Cooper Barkate. Barkate is expected to help open up space for speedy receiver Malachi Toney, making Miami's offense hard to stop.

The Hurricanes also lost two important pass-rushers on defense — Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. Miami added Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II to help strengthen the defensive front. If the new pieces come together, Miami should remain the team to beat in the conference. Their mix of talent on both sides of the ball makes them a strong favorite.

The SMU Mustangs surprised a lot of people last season by making both the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. They finished the year with a 9-4 record and even beat Miami during the regular season. Head coach Rhett Lashlee has built a program that can compete with anyone in the ACC. The Mustangs proved they belong at the top level of college football.

The key player for SMU is redshirt senior quarterback Kevin Jennings. He threw for 3,641 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions last season. His ability to make big plays will be very important if SMU wants to return to the CFP. If Jennings plays well, the Mustangs will be a serious threat all season long.

Clemson had a rough 2025 season, finishing with a 7-6 record despite having a talented roster. Nine of their players were selected in the first five rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, which shows the team had plenty of talent. Now, Clemson must replace their quarterback, with Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds competing for the starting job in training camp. It will be important for one of them to step up and lead the offense.

Even with questions surrounding the program, head coach Dabo Swinney is one of the best coaches in college football. He has found ways to win with less talented rosters before. Clemson also has a fairly easy ACC schedule this year, with their two toughest games coming at home — against Miami on October 3 and against Virginia Tech on October 24. If the Tigers win the games they are supposed to win, they should have a real shot at the ACC title game.

Two teams that could surprise people this season are Louisville and Virginia Tech. They may not be the favorites, but both teams have enough talent to cause problems for the top contenders. If Miami, SMU, or Clemson stumble, either of these teams could step in and make a run at the ACC Championship. College football is full of surprises, and this season should be no different.