Since it expanded in 2003, the Atlantic Coast Conference has touted itself as perhaps the best top-to-bottom conference in the country — or at least a league that has been as strong as any. For evidence, the ACC has pointed to its number of bowl teams — a record nine of them in 2008 — and its teams’ success on NFL draft day.

Yet for all of its positives, the ACC’s reputation has lagged nationally because of the conference’s lack of dominant teams. Since expansion brought Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech into the conference, the ACC has had a lot of good teams, but few great ones.
That could begin to change this season, starting with the Hokies, who are the conference favorites.
If Virginia Tech knocks off Alabama in Atlanta on Sept. 5, prepare for hype to hit Blacksburg, Va. But it’s not just the Hokies who could experience special things in ’09.
Florida State, which returns its entire offensive line, figures to take another step in the right direction. So, too, does Miami, which should be improved under a revamped coaching staff.
The Seminoles should be the favorites in the Atlantic Division, but N.C. State, led by All-ACC quarterback Russell Wilson, could threaten. In the Coastal Division, Virginia Tech will need to get by Georgia Tech, Miami and North Carolina to make it to the league title game in Tampa.
No matter who makes it there, one thing at this point seems clear: The ACC should be the best it has been in a good while.


Conference game of the year
Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech, Oct. 17: If Virginia Tech beats Alabama on Sept. 5, it could travel undefeated back to Atlanta. The Hokies and Yellow Jackets are probably the ACC’s two best teams and the winner here stands a good chance to play for the conference title.
Best non-conference games
Virginia Tech vs. Alabama, Sept. 5: The ACC, and particularly the Hokies, will have a chance to make a statement in this made-for-TV special in Atlanta.
Miami vs. Oklahoma, Oct. 3: At least the Hurricanes will be well prepared for this game. Their three games before this one are at Florida State, vs. Georgia Tech and at Virginia Tech.
Florida State at Florida, Nov. 28: The Seminoles think they’re on the rise and they’d love nothing more than to spoil Tim Tebow’s final game in The Swamp.
Three worst cream-puff games
Florida State vs. Jacksonville State, Sept. 12: Hey, at least the ’Noles deserve a break. Rest of their non-conference schedule is at BYU, at home against USF and at Florida.
North Carolina vs. Georgia Southern, Oct. 10: After this breather, the Tar Heels won’t play again until an Oct. 22 Thursday-night game at home against Florida State.
Clemson vs. Coastal Carolina, Oct. 31: Coastal Carolina has a football team? Who knew?
Five best players
RB C.J. Spiller, Sr.: Could be the most talented skill player in the ACC and Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney plans to showcase him this season.
RB Jonathan Dwyer, Jr.: Led the ACC in rushing a season ago and earned conference player-of-the-year honors on offense; could do even more in second season in Georgia Tech Coach Paul Johnson’s triple option.
S Morgan Burnett, Jr.: The ACC lost just about all of its impact defensive players from a season ago. All except Georgia Tech’s Burnett, who tied for third nationally with seven interceptions a season ago.
QB Russell Wilson, Soph.: The N.C. State quarterback came out of nowhere a season ago to be named first-team all-conference and if he stays healthy the Wolfpack will be a big factor in the Atlantic Division.
OG Rodney Hudson, Jr.: The league’s best offensive lineman will anchor the best line in the conference at Florida State.

ACC: A closer look at each team

Boston College
2008 record: 9-5 (5-3), tied for first in Atlantic Division
Coach: Frank Spaziani (0-0, first season)
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 7/7
Most important returnee: RB Josh Haden, Soph. This would have easily been LB Mark Herzlich until news broke in the spring that he’d been diagnosed with cancer. The Eagles could be in trouble at quarterback and at receiver, so Haden will have to be productive.
Others to know: LT Anthony Castonzo and CB Roderick Rollins.
Story lines: Herzlich’s health will be a major storyline as his teammates play on this fall without him. In his first season, Spaziani, the Eagles’ former defensive coordinator, will face a lot of challenges.
Looking ahead: The Eagles have been one of the most consistent — and best — ACC teams since joining the league earlier this decade but they’ll face more obstacles this season than they have since joining the conference.

Miami
2008 record: 7-6 (4-4), tied for third in Coastal Division
Coach: Randy Shannon (12-13 in third season)
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 8/8
Most important returnee: RB Graig Cooper, Jr. Cooper finished seventh in the ACC in rushing last season and was the most consistent offensive player for an inconsistent Hurricanes’ offense.
Others to know: QB Jacory Harris and WR Travis Benjamin
Story lines: This one’s easy: Shannon shook up his coaching staff in the off-season, hiring a new offensive coordinator, Mark Whipple, and a new defensive coordinator, John Lovett. The success — and failures — of those two could define Miami’s success as it tries to ascend back to the top.
Looking ahead: The Hurricanes would compete for a berth in the title game if they were in the Atlantic. In the Coastal, against the likes of Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, they might find things more difficult.

Clemson
2008 record: 7-6 (4-4), tied for 3rd in the Atlantic Division
Coach: Dabo Swinney
Offensive/defensive starters returning: ‡
Most important returnee: RB C.J. Spiller, Sr. Spiller has been one of the most dynamic players in the ACC since he set foot on campus and he should without question be the focal point of a Tigers’ offense that doesn’t return many proven playmakers.
Others to know: DE De’Quan Bowers and WR Jacoby Ford.
Story lines: This will be the first full season of the Dabo Swinney era at Clemson, and there’s reason to be excited. Spiller should be among the most electric players in the league.
Looking ahead: A season ago, with a stocked roster, Clemson was everybody’s pick to win the ACC. Now, though, the Tigers are somewhat of a mystery. There’s enough talent for Clemson to be a factor but the Tiger faithful shouldn’t expect a huge improvement.

North Carolina
2008 record: 8-5 (4-4), tied for 3rd in Coastal Division
Coach: Butch Davis (12-13 in 3rd season)
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 6/9
Most important returnees: The entire defensive front returns for the Tar Heels — Es E.J. Wilson and Robert Quinn and Ts Marvin Austin and Cam Thomas. They should lead a unit that could be among the best in the conference.
Others to know: QB T.J. Yates and RB Shaun Draughn
Story lines: In Davis’ third season, we should begin to see the effects of his recruiting, which has been good since he arrived in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels have more depth and more team speed than they’ve had in a long time.
Looking ahead: Like Miami, North Carolina has the talent and ability to be competitive in the Coastal but the Heels are probably just a notch or two below Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.

N.C. State
2008 record: 6-7 (4-4), tied for 3rd in Atlantic Division
Coach: Tom O’Brien (11-14 in 3rd season)
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 7/7
Most important returnee: QB Russell Wilson, Soph. Wilson could be the best at his position in the league and he’s the primary reason why the Wolfpack could be one of the surprise teams in the league.
Others to know: DE Willie Young and DT Alan Michael Cash
Story lines: The Wolfpack suffered a blow when LB Nate Irving was seriously injured in a car crash earlier this offseason, but it still has enough pieces to be a factor. N.C. State could take a big step forward in O’Brien’s third season.
Looking ahead: Mark your calendars for Oct. 31. That Halloween game between Florida State and N.C. State — at FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium — could decide the Atlantic.

Duke
2008 record: 4-8 (1-7), 6th place, Coastal Division
Coach: David Cutcliffe (4-8 in 2nd season)
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 5/5
Most important returnee: QB Thaddeus Lewis, Sr. One of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country, Lewis is also among the most underrated. He might be the best in the ACC and he gives the Blue Devils hope.
Others to know: DT Vince Oghobaase and LB Vincent Rey
Story lines: Duke might have been better than anybody expected during Cutcliffe’s first season in Durham and the big question now is: How much the Blue Devils can improve in Year 2? Lewis isn’t likely to get his due since he plays at Duke, but he should be among the league’s best players.
Looking ahead: Don’t look now, but Cutcliffe seems to slowly be building something at Duke. He has the Devils headed in the right direction, but their record this season might not show it.

Florida State
2008 record: 9-4 (5-3); tied for first in Atlantic Division
Coach: Bobby Bowden (309-91-4 in 34th season)
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 8/5
Most important returnee: QB Christian Ponder, Jr. If Ponder has improved as much as his coaches and teammates believe — and they’ve been raving about him this off-season — the Seminoles can take a big step back toward where they used to be.
Others to know: LG Rodney Hudson and CB Patrick Robinson
Story lines: The Bowden retirement story line figures to be prominent — either this season or the next is likely to be his last. But if the Seminoles get off to a hot start, they could become a national factor sooner than anyone expected.
Looking ahead: The ’Noles have holes, especially at receiver and in the secondary, but there’s enough there to make them the favorites in the Atlantic. Bowden is especially looking forward toward 2010 when just about everybody will return.

Virginia
2008 record: 5-7 (3-5), 5th in Coastal Division
Coach: Al Groh (56-44 in 8th season)
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 5/6
Most important returnee: CB Vic Hall, Sr. Hall started for two years at cornerback but he’s likely to enter camp as the team’s first option at quarterback. He was a record-setting quarterback in high school and could be the perfect option to lead Virginia’s new offense.
Others to know: QB Jameel Sewell and CB Ras-I Dowling
Story lines: Groh revamped the coaching staff and hired former Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon to revitalize the Cavaliers’ stagnant offense. Brandon is installing a no-huddle spread offense that should add some excitement, if not results.
Looking ahead: This could be a make-or-break season for Groh, who hasn’t exactly endeared himself to the fan base, which seemed to lose interest in the team amid its struggles a season ago.

Wake Forest
2008 record: 8-5 (4-4), tied for 3rd in the Atlantic Division
Coach: Jim Grobe (54-44 in 9th season)
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 9/4
Most important returnee: QB Riley Skinner, Sr. Skinner will enter his senior season as the most accurate passer in the history of the league, with a 67.3 career completion percentage.
Others to know: NT Boo Robinson and RB Brandon Pendergrass
Story lines: Wake Forest loses the majority of its defense, which carried the Demon Deacons in 2008, so there are a lot of questions about who will fill the voids. Linebacker is of especially great concern — Wake returns no starters at that position.
Looking ahead: The Demon Deacons have been a factor in the Atlantic Division for years but, for the first time in a while, they might once again resume their old underdog role. Wake has too many holes on defense to be considered a favorite headed into this season.

Maryland
2008 record: 8-5 (4-4), tied for 3rd in Atlantic Division
Coach: Ralph Friedgen (64-36 in 9th season)
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 6/4
Most important returnees: QB Chris Turner, Sr. and RB Da’Rel Scott, Jr. Turner who will be entering his third full season as the starting quarterback, and Scott, who finished second in the ACC in rushing a season ago, will be counted on to lead the Terps.
Others to know: WR Torrey Smith and LB Alex Wujciak
Story lines: Friedgen hired a new defensive coordinator, Don Brown, and he’s likely to employ a much more aggressive scheme than what the Terps had been playing. The defense returns just four starters and is a big question mark.
Looking ahead: Maryland has been one of those teams that always seems to be in the mix but it might find difficulty this season. The Terrapins have major holes on defense and the offensive line will need to be rebuilt.

Virginia Tech
2008 record: 10-4 (5-3), tied for 1st in Coastal, ACC champions
Coach: Frank Beamer (117-89-2 in 29th season)
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 8/7
Most important returnees: QB Tyrod Taylor, Jr., and RB Darren Evans, Soph. Taylor could be the most electrifying player in the ACC if he performs up to his potential, and Evans has a lot to live up to after he ran for 1,265 yards as a freshman a season ago.
Others to know: CB Stephan Virgil and OG Sergio Render
Story lines: Virginia Tech a season ago became the first ACC team to win a BCS bowl game post-ACC expansion and with 15 returning starters, people are expecting Beamer’s team to be even better this season.
Looking ahead: Virginia Tech’s opener on Sept. 5 against Alabama will be billed as one of the “games of the year” and a Hokies victory could provide a foundation of great things to come.

Georgia Tech
2008 record: 9-4 (5-3), tied for first in Coastal Division
Coach: Paul Johnson
Offensive/defensive starters returning: 9/8
Most important returnee: RB Jonathan Dwyer, Jr. Dwyer led the ACC in rushing a season ago with 1,395 yards and he should be a favorite to do that again in Johnson’s powerful triple-option offense.
Others to know: QB Josh Nesbitt and S Morgan Burnett
Story lines: The Yellow Jackets were among the surprise teams in the country a season ago in Johnson’s first season and they ran his triple-option better anyone could have expected. The scary thing for the ACC? They should be even better now.
Looking ahead: Georgia Tech will face steep competition in the Coastal Division but the Jackets — along with Virginia Tech — are a primary favorite to represent the division in the ACC title game.