The Atlantic Coast Conference’s annual preseason poll, which surveyed more than 185 media representatives, has crowned the University of Miami as the favorite to win the 2026 football championship.
Miami Leads the Pack
The Hurricanes collected 3,159 points, the highest total, and earned 165 first‑place votes, underscoring the confidence placed in their roster.
SMU, Louisville, Clemson and Georgia Tech rounded out the top five, with Clemson securing seven first‑place votes, SMU six, Louisville four, and Georgia Tech two, while Stanford also received a solitary top vote.
The league is also navigating a transition to a nine‑game conference schedule, a shift that promises deeper matchups and heightened competition as teams jockey for positioning heading into the championship game scheduled for Saturday, December 5, at noon ET on ABC.
With a depth of talent across the conference, analysts expect the upcoming season to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, making the December showdown a must‑watch event for fans and broadcasters alike.