Stay on top of the latest College Football<\/a> updates direct from Las Vegas!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n With Notre Dame back in the Independent ranks, Clemson will again be looking for someone to join it atop this league as a serious challenger. The Tigers avenged last regular season\u2019s loss to the Fighting Irish in the ACC title game before falling in the national semifinals against Ohio State but lost QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne and the top three most productive receivers from a year ago. DJ Uagaleilei (Ooh-ee-uh-guh-lay-lay) is set to become a household name in taking over for Lawrence, while true freshman Will Shipley looks like he\u2019ll be the primary back. With a game in Charlotte against Georgia to open things up and neither North Carolina or Miami on the schedule, Clemson is likely to go undefeated in ACC play and will be in the national title mix behind a defense that returns nine starters, including DE\u2019s Myles Murphy, Xavier Thomas and DT Bryan Breese up front. You\u2019ll have to deal with some inflated spreads but Clemson is 80-56-3 ATS over the past 10 years and are 79-7 straight up since 2015.<\/p>\n Mike Norvell\u2019s first team at Florida State was a disaster. The Seminoles finished 2-6 against FBS competition and struggled to defeat the one FCS team on their slate in Jacksonville State. FSU has lost its last four season openers, faltering under Jimbo Fisher, Willie Taggart, and Norvell last year. The \u2018Noles will be an underdog at home against Notre Dame on Sept. 5 and have to visit North Carolina and Clemson in addition to Florida in the regular-season finale. Other talented team like N.C. State and Miami come through Tallahassee in November. The offensive line returns intact, but that may not be great news given their struggles blocking up front. That could end up resulting in a rough go of it for UCF transfer McKenzie Milton, who has made it back from a gruesome knee injury suffered years ago and looks to be the guy set to line up under center ahead of Jordan Travis and Chubba Purdy. FSU\u2019s top four returning tacklers are back but the defense gave up 41 or more points in half of their FBS games last season. Norvell should be able to get things turned around at Florida State but given the tough schedule, even a .500 season would be a real achievement in 2021.<\/p>\n The AP Preseason poll has been released, and #UNC<\/a> is officially the 10th-best team in the country: https:\/\/t.co\/GSeobawltI<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/K6NyNfaV4i<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tar Heel Blog (@tarheelblog) August 16, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n N.C. State could put together a really fun season if sophomore QB Devin Leary makes a big leap. The Wolfpack went 8-4 last year and put together a pair of nine-win seasons under Dave Doeren in 2017 and \u201918, so they\u2019ve got a winning culture established in Raleigh. After winning its last four games last season, N.C. State has a promising campaign ahead considering they return 10 starters and are loaded up front. The top 12 tacklers are back and the offense returns the top three rushers and receivers. RB Zonovan \u201cBam\u201d Knight and WR Emeka Ekezie are all-ACC types. Clemson and North Carolina both come through town and a big start could be in the cards if the Wolfpack can pull off a road win at Mississippi State on Sept. 11.<\/p>\n North Carolina QB Sam Howell has been the runner-up to Lawrence in terms of all-ACC honors the past two seasons and threw for over 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. He\u2019ll have to roll without top targets Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome for his second sophomore campaign but gets a great weapon in Tennessee transfer RB Ty Chandler to take some pressure off him. Howell hung 41 or more points in six of the last seven regular-season games in 2020, closing with a 62-point explosion against Miami. That gives Howell the edge over Hurricanes\u2019 dual-threat standout D\u2019Eriq King, which segues nicely into the 2021 ACC game of the year.<\/p>\n Other Conference Previews<\/em>: The \u2018Canes are going to have their Oct. 16 game in Chapel Hill circled after being embarrassed in South Florida in the manner that they were, and it\u2019s very possible that the winner of this Coastal Division clash will wind up opposite Clemson in the ACC Championship game. Manny Diaz\u2019s team had won five straight games prior to getting crushed by the Tar Heels last season and returns their entire offensive line, King, top rusher Cam\u2019Ron Harris and No. 1 receiver Mike Harley in addition to their top three tacklers on defense. Miami will be coming off a bye and will have its entire focus on rattling Howell. The underdog in this series has covered in 12 of the last 17, posting eight outright upsets. If Howell is healthy, Mack Brown\u2019s Heels will likely be favored at home.<\/p>\nTeam to Watch<\/h3>\n
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Sleeper to Watch<\/h3>\n
Player to Watch<\/h3>\n
SEC<\/a>
Big XII<\/a>
Big Ten<\/a><\/p>\nGame of the Year<\/h3>\n
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