The ACC champion is now contractually guaranteed a College Football Playoff berth, which raises the stakes on a conference race that already had plenty of intrigue. Andy Staples breaks down who's built to win it.
As expected, Miami and SMU sit atop the pecking order. The Hurricanes retooled after losing three first-rounders from last year's national title game team, adding the quarterback and receiver who helped Duke win the ACC in 2025. The Mustangs have been knocking on the door since joining the league, and entering year three with the same starting quarterback gives SMU a familiarity factor as it navigates a favorable schedule.
Clemson lands among the serious contenders despite going 7-6 last season with a roster loaded with draft picks. The talent is still there. Whether Dabo Swinney can get more out of it is the defining question hanging over the program heading into 2026.
There's a longer list of serious contenders beyond Clemson, plus a dark horse or two worth knowing about before the season kicks off. Staples has the full preview.
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