ACC Football: Preview and Predictions for 2021 Season

Clemson is aiming for a seventh straight ACC title in 2021. Coastal Division leaders North Carolina and Miami are the teams that might challenge Clemson. North Carolin State is the team that seems most likely to challenge the Clemson dynasty.

Sam Howell is a strong contender to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. D'Eriq King is an accomplished quarterback who played for Houston last season. Clemson is expected to have a couple of All-Americans in 2021.  Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy were freshmen All Americans. Justyn Ross is coming back from spinal surgery. The team is rebuilding at running back and receiver.

Clemson is the clear favorite in the ACC. The Tigers are 47-3 against ACC teams in last six seasons. North Carolina and Miami landed in preseason AP Top 25. McKenzie Milton will make his debut for Florida State against Notre Dame on September 5. He was injured in 2018 and has been sidelined for the last two years. His injury was caused by a knee injury.

Miami Hurricanes have a lot of experience, but they need more to improve their team. North Carolina State Wolfpack have experience on defense but room to grow. NC State has a chance to upset Clemson in September. Carolina is hosting Miami on October 16. Carolina won the Atlantic Division in 2019. The team didn't play in 2020. UNC lost 55-10 to Clemson. N.C. State won 8-4 last season. They didn’t play against Clemson until September 2020, so they didn the game in 2021.

Justin Fuente's Virginia Tech team finished 5-6 in 2020. Dino Babers' Syracuse team was 10-3 and 15th in the AP poll three years ago. The team went 1-10 last year. Baber's buyout is unknown, but it's estimated to be around $17 million.

Clemson plays Georgia on opening weekend. Clemson travels to Syracuse, Pitt and Louisville on Friday. North Carolina State is Clemson's top threat in the Atlantic. Miami plays North Carolin on October 16. UNC plays Notre Dame on Oct. 30.   UNC could be the ACC's last remaining non-Cle Clemson national threat. If so, it might try to knock Notre Notre Dame out of contention.

Clemson's offense is led by Tony Elliott, who has overseen five top-12 offenses in the last six years. Justyn Ross is the only player who caught 16-plus passes in 2020. The Tigers need to replace All-American running back Travis Etienne.

Clemson has a rare mix of veterans and youth on the defensive side. Four players earned All-ACC honors last season. Tyler Davis and Xavier Thomas were second- and third-team All ACC members in 2019.

In the Coastal Division, North Carolina is the preseason favorite over Miami. The winner of the division will be the underdog in the ACC Championship Game. Clemson's defense is considered the strongest unit in ACC. Neither Miami nor UNC projects to have a defense that is more than slightly above average.