The Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2026 preseason rankings have placed the Miami Hurricanes at No. 7 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, marking the highest preseason position for an ACC team since the conference’s last College Football Playoff appearance in 2018.
Joining the Hurricanes in the top 25 are SMU at No. 20 and Clemson at No. 23, while nine ACC programs earned votes in the poll, with Louisville hovering just outside the rankings as the unofficial No. 26 team with 153 votes.
The optimism surrounding Miami stems from a potent combination of talent on both sides of the ball, highlighted by star receiver Malachi Toney, who is regarded as one of the nation’s premier pass catchers, and Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, who is expected to bring a dynamic passing attack to the offense.
Belichick’s Second Chapter in Chapel Hill
Bill Belichick begins his second season as head coach at North Carolina, where he is tasked with translating early recruiting gains into on‑field success. Despite expectations of improvement, the Tar Heels were omitted from the preseason Coaches Poll, underscoring the lingering skepticism surrounding the program.
The ACC’s preseason outlook reflects a broader narrative of parity within the Power Five, as traditional powerhouses outside the conference dominate the upper echelons of the national poll. Ohio State leads the nation with 38 first‑place votes, while the ACC’s representation remains limited to a handful of top‑25 entries.
Other notable vote‑getters include Florida, which garnered 147 points, Georgia Tech with 26, and Clemson’s modest three points, illustrating the conference’s uneven depth but also its potential for surprise breakout performances.
Analysts caution that preseason polls are only a snapshot, pointing out that injuries, schedule difficulty, and mid‑season adjustments could reshape the landscape before the playoff picture crystallizes in December.
If the Hurricanes can translate their talent into consistent wins, the ACC may finally break its playoff drought, but the road ahead will require navigating both internal competition and the relentless pressure of national expectations.