Ashleigh Snyder
Clemson Football celebrating its 2024 ACC Championship victory.
With Week 1 in the books, the ACC landscape has already shifted drastically from what many experts predicted heading into the season.
Clemson, the defending ACC champion, entered the season with more returning starters than any team in the Power 4 conferences and entered the season with championship-level expectations.
The Tigers took on LSU at home in a top-10 showdown, ultimately falling 17-10 in a game that would come down to the last minute. Heisman-hopeful Cade Klubnik and the offense struggled to get going, and now hope to get the team back on track against Troy.
While Clemson struggled, many other ACC teams found brighter storylines with their success.
Miami also found themselves in a top-10 matchup to open their season, as they hosted Notre Dame on Sunday. With the departure of Cam Ward, all eyes were on Georgia transfer Carson Beck to see if he could sustain the team’s momentum from last season for a chance at an ACC title and first playoff berth.
All questions are answered now as Beck delivered in a big way, leading Miami to a 27-24 victory over the Fighting Irish. Now ranked No. 5, Miami is suddenly the front-runner to claim the ACC crown and looking to make its first playoff appearance.
Possibly the biggest surprise from Week 1 came from Tallahassee — Florida State, led by transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos, stunned Alabama 31-17 in dominant fashion.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the Seminoles the last two seasons, going from undefeated ACC champions in 2023 before ultimately missing the playoffs, signaling the beginning of a spiral. Florida State reversed its near-perfect season with a 2-10 season last year, but looks to be back in the playoff hunt with acquired talent and newfound confidence.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the most disappointing performance of the week by most measurements belongs to Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels.
North Carolina finished last season 6-7; however, the Tar Heels generated national buzz by hiring six-time Super Bowl champion Belichick as their head coach, making them one of the most uncertain teams in college football.
The Tar Heels failed to live up to expectations. After an opening drive score, they allowed 41 consecutive points in a 48-14 blowout loss to TCU. It was the most points Belichick has ever given up as a head coach in his three decades of coaching.
Week 1 has already rewritten the script for the ACC. Miami and Florida State look resurgent, Clemson faces early doubts and North Carolina has more questions than answers after their busy offseason. With many teams gearing up for bigger games in the following weeks, the ACC promises plenty of surprises and storylines in the season ahead.