The ACC joined the Massive Ten and SEC as the one conferences to get a number of groups into the 12-team School Soccer Playoff in 2024. Now that a normal has been set, there are a handful of groups hoping to be part of one other multi-bid season in 2025. Clemson and SMU will hope for not solely a return to the CFP however an opportunity to take the subsequent step with a playoff win, however a number of different groups additionally the autumn with playoff aspirations. Some have been within the combine earlier than stumbling late within the season, whereas others are hoping offseason strikes can spark the on-field enchancment wanted to crash the bracket.
Choosing the 5 more than likely CFP contenders is an imperfect train within the ACC, particularly when the nationwide outlook solely leaves room for a few nominees. Few predicted SMU into the bracket in the beginning of 2024, and even fewer thought Indiana or Arizona State can be making an look within the playoff. With all components considered, we have our record, ranked from more than likely to least more likely to contend for the CFP in 2025.
Clemson
The Tigers are one simply 9 groups with nationwide championship odds of 20/1 or higher (18/1), and the one workforce from the ACC with odds of 30/1 or higher in line with FanDuel Sportsbook. It is essentially the most offseason buzz the Tigers have seen in a few years, and it comes on the again of a 2024 late-season cost that included an ACC Championship and a return to the CFP for the primary time since 2020. Cade Klubnik was probably the most productive quarterbacks within the nation, throwing 36 touchdowns to only six interceptions and racking up 3,639 yards passing. Now he’ll be in Yr 3 as a starter with offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, and surrounded by a bunch of gifted younger broad receivers.
Clemson expects to discipline among the finest offenses within the ACC, however to be a nationwide title contender the Tigers should take steps ahead on protection. That is the place Dabo Swinney addressed a few of final season’s points with a workers change, hiring Tom Allen away from Penn State to enhance the small print for a gifted group that not all the time basically sound in 2024. These across the program count on to make the CFP in 2025. The actual dialog is whether or not the Tigers could have a bunch that may win one — if not a number of — video games within the 12-team bracket.
Mario Cristobal almost acquired his alma mater into the ACC Championship Sport, holding a 21-0 lead at Syracuse within the closing sport of the common season. However after Kyle McCord and the Orange roared again and finally received 42-38, the Hurricanes have been shuffled out of the convention title hunt and dropped out of at-large competition within the School Soccer Playoff rankings. Shedding Cam Ward, Xavier Restrepo and lots of extra of the important thing contributors to final season’s 10-win breakthrough raises some attention-grabbing questions, however Cristobal and his workers have recruited nicely sufficient to keep away from a serious dip. Each strains of scrimmage ought to be ACC-title caliber and Cristobal addressed his leaky protection by bringing in defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman from Minnesota.
The large X-factor is Carson Beck — who turned down the NFL for a yr at Miami similar to Ward did a yr in the past. At his greatest, Beck is without doubt one of the high quarterbacks within the nation, however a turnover-prone midseason slide in 2024 raised purple flags. There’s additionally a query of well being after an offseason surgical procedure to Beck’s throwing arm. Make no mistake about it: Miami’s ACC title and CFP hopes relaxation on Beck’s return to kind. However the Hurricanes ought to be ok with most of their roster getting into 2025.
With 19 wins in his first two seasons, Jeff Brohm has been an simple success in his return to his hometown and alma mater. The Cardinals reached the ACC title sport in 2023 and have been only a few performs away from each the ACC Championship and School Soccer Playoff in 2024. Louisville was adequate to beat Clemson in Loss of life Valley and fell simply seven factors brief in shut losses to SMU, Miami and nationwide runner-up Notre Dame.
Brohm has gone again to the switch portal to restock the depth chart for a 3rd straight season. A lot of the offseason consideration will middle on how former USC quarterback Miller Moss performs in an offense that has been pleasant to quarterbacks up to now. The schedule is backloaded with video games in opposition to Miami, Clemson and SMU all coming after Oct. 15, so the Playing cards would possibly want some lucky breaks in terms of accidents and depth. Nevertheless, with Notre Dame rotating off, the Cardinals’ slate gives the chance for 10 wins and likewise sufficient high quality to impress the committee.
SMU
Rhett Lashlee left the American Athletic Convention with a league title and an 8-0 document agaisnt convention foes. For an encore, he did the identical factor in his first season within the ACC. It is not precisely the Pony Categorical in Dallas, however SMU’s degree of funding competes with anybody within the ACC. Most significantly, the Mustangs have a coach who has proven the power to thrive within the fashionable portal period. Although SMU needs its CFP debut went otherwise, there may be nonetheless loads of offseason momentum across the program.
Kevin Jennings will probably be among the many greatest quarterbacks within the ACC and he is joined by a ability place group that ought to be extra wholesome after struggling a number of notable injures final yr. Oddsmakers give SMU and Louisville comparable title odds, however we’re slotting the Mustangs right here at No. 4 because of a harder schedule than they confronted in 2024. SMU provides Baylor to a non-conference slate that features rival TCU, an ACC Championship Sport rematch with Clemson (in Loss of life Valley) and video games in opposition to fellow contenders Louisville and Miami.
At FanDuel Sportsbook lists solely 4 ACC squads with preseason win totals increased than 7.5. And whereas groups exceed their win whole by a number of video games each single season it nonetheless stands as a cold-hearted reminder of the convention’s playoff outlook. Final yr we noticed nine-win groups from the SEC be left on the opposite facet of the lower line. If we take that as precedent an ACC workforce doubtless must win 10 common season video games or the convention championship to get in. For Florida State that might imply hovering over the workforce’s present win whole of seven.5 with a roster that’s nonetheless counting on items that contributed to a 2-10 marketing campaign in 2024. It is extremely unlikely, however given Florida State’s pedigree and the potential for main enhancements within the wake of wholesale modifications to Mike Norvell’s teaching workers, they get the nod because the ACC’s fifth contender.
Gus Malzahn has received championships as a coordinator and competed for a nationwide title as a head coach, and new quarterback Thomas Castellanos ought to convey some versatility to the offense. In the meantime, Tony White comes highly-recommended from Nebraska as one of many high defensive coordinators within the nation. Given a schedule that features Alabama, Miami, Clemson and Florida, it is a season the place even 8-4 can be seen as an enormous turnaround. However FSU will want much more than eight wins to contend for the CFP.
