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.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
If my hunch is correct, at least one team will glide cleanly to Charlotte.<\/p>\n
Here are my predicted standings, plus 10 other predictions for the ACC and Notre Dame in 2026. (Also read my SEC<\/a> and Big 12<\/a> predictions.)<\/p>\n ACC championship:<\/strong> Miami over Louisville 1. Miami will run away from the field<\/strong>. Yeah, yeah, they\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n 2. But the Irish will get revenge in South Bend<\/strong>. Notre Dame deserves all the preseason acclaim it\u2019s 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 \u2014 at BYU \u2014 but they\u2019ll be out for blood in the Miami rematch on Nov. 7 after the Canes kept them out of the Playoff last year.<\/p>\n 3. SMU or Louisville goes to Charlotte. <\/strong>In their two seasons since moving up from the American, the Mustangs have gone 14-2 in ACC play. Star QB Kevin Jennings<\/a> is back. They\u2019re 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\u2019ll give them the edge to get to the ACC title game.<\/p>\n 4. Virginia won\u2019t be a one-off.<\/strong> 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\u2019s most experienced O-line. And Missouri transfer QB Beau Pribula may be an upgrade from Chandler Morris.<\/p>\n 5. Dabo Swinney endures another mediocre year.<\/strong> Once a program reaches the heights Clemson did from 2015-2020, people just kind of assume they\u2019re \u201cstill talented.\u201d Well, the Tigers had nine draft picks last season and went 7-6. They\u2019ve gone 4-4 in conference play two of the past three seasons. Expect more of the same.<\/p>\n
Playoff teams:<\/strong> Miami, Notre Dame (independent)<\/p>\n