Week 1 ACC Power Rankings: Jackets Near the Top

Football season is here! We made it! The long wait is over, as we are now less than 5 days until kickoff. These rankings will be based solely on the on-field performance and injuries for each team. While clearly there is a favorite here, These rankings will remain un-biased as the season goes on, and I will try my best to not discuss recruiting at all here.. Week 1 kicks off Thursday, with 4 ACC teams in action. Without further ado, the preseason ACC power rankings.

1. Clemson (0-0, 0-0)

Clemson starts out the season as the team to beat in the ACC. While the defense remains a question mark, and Clemson will be running an offense without Chad Morris (Took the SMU Job) Clemson returns QB Deshaun Watson, and if he can remain healthy, this is the team to watch other than the Jackets in the ACC.  Here's to wondering if the term "Clemso

Week 1- Saturday, 12:30 PM hosting Wofford

2. Georgia Tech (0-0, 0-0)

Coach Paul Johnson leads this team into the season with higher expectations than usual, and for good reason. Returning several starters on defense and "the guy" in Justin Thomas, this team is ready to make a run. Finding new weapons in the passing game is going to be important, but that will not slow them down in these first two matchups.

Week 1- Thursday, 7:30 PM hosting Alcorn State

3. Virginia Tech (0-0, 0-0)

First surprise of the rankings, having the Hokies over the Seminoles. This defense is going to be special, and has the chance to be historic. If the offense can keep pace, this VT team has the chance to have a special season.

Week 1- Monday, 8 PM hosting Ohio State

4. Florida State (0-0, 0-0)

For a team coming off an appearance in the first CFP, one would not expect them to not even make the top 3 of their own conference's power rankings. Yet here we are, with FSU squeezing into the top 4. Losing so many impact players will do that to you, especially the number one overall pick. What FSU lacks in experience, they make up for in depth. If they can make the right decision at QB, and do it early enough, this team has a chance to "surprise" some people this season.

Week 1- Saturday, 8 PM hosting Texas State

5. Louisville (0-0, 0-0)

Remember all those transfers Louisville brought in over the past year or so? TCU's Fields, Shaq Wiggins, and Josh Harvey-Clemons from uga are just a few of the newcomers to this team. Gone are several, several players from last season, but if they can remain healthy, and Petrino can take the next step forward, this program has a chance to continue to improve as the years go on with them being in the ACC.

Week 1- Saturday 3:30 PM Neutral-Site game at the Georgia Dome against Auburn

6. Miami (0-0, 0-0)

Miami enters the 2015 season in what could be the final for Al Golden if major improvement is not shown.

Week 1- Saturday, 6 PM hosting Bethune-Cookman

7.Duke (0-0, 0-0)

Duke enters this season with a ton of momentum after last season. If Thomas Sirk can make plays, and this defense can make the stops needed, Duke has a chance to continue their recent success under Coach David Cutcliffe.

Week 1- Thursday 9:30 PM on the road against Tulane

8- NC State (0-0, 0-0)

The Wolfpack are entering the season as a popular "sleeper" pick to make a run at the conference. Returning Jacoby Brissett will bring those kind of predictions, and if the weapons around him can step up, stranger things have happened.

Week 1- Saturday 6 PM hosting Troy

9. UNC (0-0, 0-0)

UNC is entering a make-or-break season just like Miami and others around the conference. New Defensive Coordinator Gene Chizik is going to have his work cut out for him when it comes to turning around this defense, and implement the Tampa 2.

Week 1- Thursday 6 PM Neutral-site game against South Carolina in Charlotte

10. Pitt (0-0, 0-0)

Pitt enters the Pat Narduzzi era with increased optimism. If he can turn the defense around, the offense has plenty of weapons (Tyler Boyd, James Conner among others) to make noise this season.

Week 1- Saturday 1 PM hosting Youngstown State

11. Virginia (0-0, 0-0)

The talent is there...Will the talent turn into wins in 2015?

Week 1- Saturday 3 PM on the road against UCLA

12. Boston College (0-0, 0-0)

Week 1- Saturday 1 PM hosting Maine

13. Wake Forest (0-0, 0-0)

Week 1- Thursday 7 PM hosting Elon

14. Syracuse (0-0, 0-0)

Week 1- Friday 7 PM hosting Rhode Island

These rankings are bound and determined to fluctuate as the season goes on, look for these every Monday at this time. Will an ACC team make the CFP this season? Only time will tell.