No conference does clunky standings quite like the ACC. The league is transitioning to a nine-game conference schedule, but due to preexisting nonconference contracts, five schools (Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and UNC) are still playing eight games this season.

The ACC also changed its tiebreaker policy after 7-5 Duke emerged from a five-way tie for second to reach the conference championship game, winning the league for the first time since 1989 but missing the Playoff. This year, you could see a tie between a 6-2 team and a 7-2 team broken by a computer rating (and the ACC champion is guaranteed a bid).

If my hunch is correct, at least one team will glide cleanly to Charlotte.

Here are my predicted standings, plus 10 other predictions for the ACC and Notre Dame in 2026. (Also read my SEC and Big 12 predictions.)

ACC championship: Miami over Louisville
Playoff teams: Miami, Notre Dame (independent)

1. Miami will run away from the field. Yeah, yeah, they’ve never won the ACC since joining in 2004. But the Canes and their highly priced roster are living in a completely different neighborhood than everyone else. Duke transfer QB Darian Mensah is a legit Heisman Trophy contender, and running back Mark Fletcher and receiver Malachi Toney could be All-Americans.

2. But the Irish will get revenge in South Bend. Notre Dame deserves all the preseason acclaim it’s getting. QB CJ Carr and his receivers will be dynamic, and its defense should be as good/better than the 2024 edition. I have the Irish losing once — at BYU — but they’ll be out for blood in the Miami rematch on Nov. 7 after the Canes kept them out of the Playoff last year.

3. SMU or Louisville goes to Charlotte. In their two seasons since moving up from the American, the Mustangs have gone 14-2 in ACC play. Star QB Kevin Jennings is back. They’re my co-No. 2 with Louisville, where explosive RB Isaac Brown leads a deep backfield. The Cards happen to host SMU in Week 3, so I’ll give them the edge to get to the ACC title game.

4. Virginia won’t be a one-off. I initially assumed the Cavaliers would crash back to earth after so many close wins last year (three in overtime) en route to an 11-3 final record. But UVA may be the oldest team in the country and returns the nation’s most experienced O-line. And Missouri transfer QB Beau Pribula may be an upgrade from Chandler Morris.

5. Dabo Swinney endures another mediocre year. Once a program reaches the heights Clemson did from 2015-2020, people just kind of assume they’re “still talented.” Well, the Tigers had nine draft picks last season and went 7-6. They’ve gone 4-4 in conference play two of the past three seasons. Expect more of the same.

6. James Franklin shows early returns. Last year was a lost 3-9 season after Brent Pry got fired after three games. Franklin retained a lot of key pieces — including Pry as DC — while bringing in Penn State imports like QB Ethan Grunkemeyer. The Hokies will rebound and finish on the right side of .500.

7. Mike Norvell does not finish the season. Florida State’s embattled coach — 3-13 in the ACC since 2024 — was too expensive to fire last year. Now it may be too costly to keep him. The fanbase is checked out and roster money dried up. And FSU is visiting Alabama, Louisville and Miami over the first seven games.

8. The Bay Area schools diverge. Stanford cost coach Justin Wilcox his job when it stomped Cal last season. New Bears leader Tosh Lupoi has a promising team led by stud QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Things look bleaker for Cardinal coach Tavita Pritchard, whose best option is ex-Michigan starter Davis Warren.

9. Bill O’Brien says, “What am I doing here?” The third-year Boston College boss is in a no-win situation. His employer is a non-factor in NIL. The Eagles went 2-10 in 2025, lost some of their best players and signed the 60th-ranked portal class, per 247Sports. After another 2-10-type season, O’Brien moves on.

10.Bill Belichick says, “What am I doing here?” Unlike O’Brien, Bill’s dilemma is entirely of his own making. The Tar Heels’ portal class was also outside the top 50. And the schedule — TCU, at Clemson, Notre Dame, Miami, Louisville, at Virginia — is harder than it was for last year’s 4-8 team. If it turns out this year’s record is the same or worse, prepare for a “mutually agreed to part ways” press release in December. Followed by a nice, long vacation with the missus.