2025 College Football Review: ACC

Photo from USA Today

The ACC came dangerously, dangerously close to missing the playoffs entirely due to a disappointing year all around.

Thankfully, Miami saved their bacon.

Still, let’s take a look back on the year for the ACC.

Biggest Surprise: Virginia Cavaliers

I doubt any Hoos fan is going to take this as solace for missing the playoffs after they lost the ACC title game to the Duke Blue Devils, but Tony Elliott knew he needed a great year to save his job, and his transfers hit on route to a 10 win season, an easy win over arch rival Virginia Tech, and an ACC title game appearance.

All things considered, it truly was a great year for Virginia.

Biggest Disappointment: Clemson Tigers

An honorable mention to Florida State, who started the year unranked, upset Alabama, and then had the wheels fall off to miss a bowl once again, but Clemson has to be the answer here.

The expectations for the Dabo and company was not only a conference championship, but a national championship chance.

And even though they ended the year with four straight victories, they were 3-5 before that run happened, and their season was completely over.

That’s just nowhere near good enough. No two ways about it.

What I Got Right

I said that Duke was a dark horse to win the ACC because Darian Mensah could fix the offense to go along with their improving defense.

And even though Duke was 7-5 and the defense was atrocious, they still somehow won the tiebreakers to make it to Charlotte, and won the ACC!

That’s what gamblers call a backdoor cover, folks.

I think.

I don’t know I don’t gamble.

What I Got Wrong

I also thought UNC would be dark horse ACC title contenders.

Whoops.

Coach Of The Year: Tony Elliott

He threw a Hail Mary to save his job, and it was caught.

The growth from UVA this year was awesome, and hopefully it continues going forward.

Player Of The Year: Haynes King

King knew this was probably the last meaningful year of his football career, and he put his body on the line for it.

He was excellent this year and almost accumulated one thousand yards rushing as he tried to will Georgia Tech into a conference championship appearance.

He laid it all out there.

Team Of The Year: Miami Hurricanes

The losses to SMU and Louisville that kept Miami out of Charlotte, and almost kept them out of the playoffs, were really bad.

But come on, now.

They were by far the class of the ACC this year in what was a very, very weak season for the conference.

Without Miami, the ACC would be in shambles all offseason ending up without a playoff team.

They owe Miami a lot.