Athlon plans league tables for the 2023 football season

For the first time in a long time, there is a real debate going into the season about who will win the ACC.

Clemson has owned the league for most of the decade, winning seven of the last eight ACC titles. But its Florida State that many expect to come out on top in 2023.

Athlon Sports is the latest national publication to offer its predictions on who will win the ACC this upcoming season, and the magazine is buying into the Seminoles’ hype. Athlon predicts Florida State to beat Clemson in the ACC Championship game.

This is the first year that two former ACC Atlantic rivals will be eligible to face each other in the ACC Championship Game due to the ACC dropping divisions.

Here’s Athlon Sports’ complete prediction of what the ACC’s scoring order will be in 2023:

1. Florida State (11-2, 7-1)
2. Clemson (10-3, 6-2)
3. North Carolina (8-4, 5-3)
4. Miami (8-4, 5-3)
5. Duke (8-4, 5-3)
6. Pittsburgh (8-4, 5-3)
7. Louisville (7-5, 5-3)
8. NC mode (7-5, 4-4)
9. Wake Forest (7-5, 4-4)
10. Syracuse (7-5, 3-5)
11. Georgia Tech (5-7, 3-5)
12. Virginia Tech (5-7, 2-6)
13. Boston College (5-7, 1-7)
14. Virginia (3–9, 1–7)

A click HERE buy the entire Athlon magazine for the 2023 college football season

It’s no surprise that Florida State is the Athlons pick to win the ACC this season because the Seminoles have a loaded roster. Jordan Travis is back at quarterback, Johnny Wilson is back at receiver, and FSU brought in a talented class from the transfer portal that includes former Michigan State star Keon Coleman.

Clemson might have something to say about this, though. Cade Klubnik is entering his first season as the Tigers’ starting quarterback, and there’s plenty of excitement for the Texans in the program. Clemson should also be loaded for a defense led by two of the best running backs in the country Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Elsewhere in the ACC, it’s no surprise that North Carolina has been picked third in the league. Tar Heels returning quarterback Drake Mayewho is expected to be a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Athlon Sports also predicts Miami to be fourth. The Hurricanes overhauled their roster this offseason, and expectations are much higher Mario Cristobal enters year 2 after a disappointing first season in Miami. Duke is projected to finish fifth in the league, and the Blue Devils will get a good early test when they host Clemson in Week 1.