The ACC Conference is split into two divisions consisting of seven teams: ACC Atlantic and ACC Coastal. The best record in each division meets in the ACC Championship for a chance at the College Football Playoffs if their national ranking is among the top four of all the conference champions.
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The ACC Coastal division is the second-best in the conference. An ACC Coastal team hasn't won the ACC Championship in over a decade (Virginia Tech in 2010). Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are the only teams in the division to have made multiple appearances in the ACC Championship.
There hasn't been a consistent leader in the division, similar to how Clemson runs the ACC Atlantic. Eight different teams have won the ACC Coastal over the last eight seasons. All seven teams have made it to at least one ACC Championship game.
ACC Coastal Teams
Similar to ACC Atlantic, there are seven teams in this division
- Duke Blue Devils
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- Miami Hurricanes
- North Carolina Tar Heels
- Pittsburgh Panthers
- Virginia Cavaliers
- Virginia Tech Hokies
In a year plagued by COVID-19, Notre Dame was enlisted into the ACC Conference and ended up winning the ACC Coastal. North Carolina, Miami and Pittsburgh are the early front-runners to win in 2021 and who has the edge is still up in the air. UNC, though, could hold the advantage with Heisman candidate QB Sam Howell.
Pittsburgh could play the role of the executioner, defeating either Miami or UNC and ruining their ACC Championship chances. Virginia will look to climb the rankings in the ACC Coastal division while Duke, VT and GT will likely find themselves at the bottom of the ladder.
Here is a preview of the ACC Coastal division and who could end up representing them in the ACC Championship, starting with the Duke Blue Devils.
Duke Blue Devils: ACC Coastal preview
Duke hasn't been as good since QB Daniel Jones declared for the draft. They finished 2-9 last year as head coach David Cuteliffe embarks on his 14th year with the Blue Devils.
The offense stalled from so many turnovers and constant mistakes. QB Gunnar Holmberg takes over from Chase Brice, who moved on to Appalachian State. Duke's passing game averaged 11 yards per reception when TE Noah Grant and RB Dean Jackson left the program. Duke was the worst in the NCAA in sacks allowed in 2020 as well.
On defense, the Blue Devils allowed 445 yards and 38 points per game. At least the pass-rushers found some success and the defense was able to get their own turnovers. The LBs were very young and green last year and the DL lost three out of four starters. Duke just doesn't seem ready to rise through the ranks in the ACC Coastal.
2021-2022 ACC Coastal preview: Duke Blue Devils
Duke's strengths: The linebackers were very green last season, but there should be maturity in the group now. Shaka Heyward led the team with 80 tackles in 2020. Dorian Mausai is a tall pass rusher for the 4-2-5 scheme. One of these two could have breakout seasons.
Duke's weakness: The defensive line lost three of their four starters. Den Frye will be moved down to DE with Notre Dame transfer Ja'Mion Franklin bringing bulk back to the DL. The Blue Devils mustered just 2.82 sacks per game last year.
Duke Blue Devils Key Players: Offense
RB: Mataeo Durant - He's a small, elusive RB who helped pump life into the offense last year. Durant has four 100-yard games in his last seven. He won't be able to handle the full workload but averaged 6.8 yards per carry with a team-high 817 yards.
QB: Gunnar Holmberg - Holmberg takes over the offense in 2021 and will have to work on his tendency to throw games away with turnovers. He's got decent size, a decent arm, and can play out of the pocket at times. If he just doesn't throw picks, this offense will be way better.
Duke Blue Devils Key Players: Defense
LB: Shaka Heyward - Shaka Heyward is undersized at 6'4'', 220 pounds but has mobility. He led the team with 80 tackles along with three sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. You can't rely on his pass coverage skills but he can aid up front.
S: J'Marick Woods - Woods is a 6'3'' grad student from Michigan who should take over the starting role. He had 22 tackles and has the ideal size to be productive.
2021-2022 Duke Blue Devils ACC schedule
Week 1: Friday, September 3, at Charlotte
Week 2: Friday, September 10, vs NC A&T
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs Northwestern
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs Kansas
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, at UNC
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, vs Georgia Tech
Week 7: Saturday, October 16, at Virginia
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, at Wake Forest
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, vs Pittsburgh
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, at Virginia Tech
Week 11: Thursday, November 18, vs Louisville
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, vs Miami
2021-2022 Duke Blue Devils ACC prediction (3-9, 0-8 ACC)
Duke will score three non-conference wins early in the season but will struggle in ACC matches. They could cause some trouble for the likes of UNC and Kansas. It's a step in the right direction for this program, but there's still a long way to go.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: ACC Coastal preview
The Yellow Jackets finished 3-7 in 2020 and have been trying to establish their passing attack for years now. Under third-year head coach Geoff Collins, the offense scored 390 yards and had 24 points per game.
The issue is that they just don't score enough points. They went 0-7 when they scored 27 or fewer points. QB Jeff Sims had a decent run as a freshman. His WR group runs deep in the spread offense but some playmakers need to emerge. Georgia Tech is still piecing together a solid OL, too.
GT's defense allowed 459 yards and 37 points per game. Their defensive line is similar to the wide receivers, but they lack the ideal size. The same goes for the defensive backs, although they could have a few potential stars breaking through this year.
2021-2022 ACC Coastal preview: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech's strength: WR/DB/DL all have deep depth charts but are lacking true playmakers. They make up for it with solid rotational units. The Yellow Jackets have lost a few star players, but have others looking like future standouts.
Georgia Tech's weakness: #1 playmakers. Lead tackler David Curry, lead receiver Jalen Camp and QB James Graham are just a few that the Yellow Jackets will miss greatly.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Key Players: Offense
RB: Jordan Mason - Mason will lose playing time and snaps to rising star Jahmyr Gibbs after missing most of 2020. However, he returned as a solid workhorse with 245 yards over the final three games and you're nearly guaranteed 100 yards from him once he gets 20 carries.
QB: Jeff Sims - He's an up-and-comer on the offense with great smarts and consistency. As a freshman, he had 13 TDs, 13 INTs, 1,881 passing yards, 500 rushing yards and six additional TDs.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Key Players: Defense
LB: Quez Jackson - Jackson is the leader of the defense. He had 80 tackles, two INTs, a sack and 4.5 TFL. He's a bit smaller in size, but will get help from deep and thrives as a strong tackler.
DE: Keion White - The team needs pressure up front. Keion White is a 6'4'', 267-pound Old Dominion transfer who had a year off in 2020 (OD didn't play due to COVID-19). In 2019, he had 62 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 19 TFL.
2021-2022 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ACC schedule
Week 1: Saturday, September 4, vs Northern Illinois
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs Kennesaw State
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, at Clemson
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs UNC
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, vs Pittsburgh
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, at Duke
Week 7: Saturday, October 23, at Virginia
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, vs Virginia Tech
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, at Miami
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, vs Boston College
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, at Notre Dame
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, vs Georgia
2021-2022 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ACC prediction (5-7, 3-5 ACC)
Georgia Tech will snag two easy non-ACC wins before they go up against Clemson. Luckily, they should bounce back after an inevitable loss with wins over UNC, Pitt and Duke. The rest of the season goes downhill with six losses, including Boston College, Notre Dame and Georgia to close out the year.
Miami Hurricanes: ACC Coastal preview
If it wasn't for Notre Dame sliding into the ACC last year, the Miami Hurricanes would likely have met Clemson in the ACC Championship. They could find their way to the ACC Coastal title if QB D'Eriq King is healthy.
The pairing of QB King and OC Rhett Lashler meshed well and the offense improved as the year went on. Their passing attack wasn't as powerful as it could have been with no balance from the ground game. The Hurricanes had 440 yards and 34 points per game, but those averages were boosted by poor opponents.
The ACC Coastal is weaker than the ACC Atlantic and Miami can make it to the ACC Championship with King if he is healthy after tearing his ACL in the Cheez-It Bowl last year. As for the defense, it suffered the loss of major productive players but the secondary can become the new powerhouse.
2021-2022 ACC Coastal preview: Miami Hurricanes
Miami's strength: The secondary returns lead tackler safety Bubba Bolden (74 tackles) and second-best tackler Amari Carter (53). The cornerbacks group consists of a rotation of solid contributors. DJ Ivey is an experienced, brute tackler and Tyrique Stevenson is a young future star.
Miami's weakness: The defensive line has lost a lot of talent.
Gregory Rousseau didn't even play for them in 2020 as he sat out. Jaelen Phillips and Quincy Roche combined for 12.5 sacks and 30 TFLs last year and were both drafted. Overall, Miami ranked 4th in the NCAA in TFLs last year. It'll be a test to remain a productive squad in 2021.
Miami Hurricanes Key Players: Offense
QB: D'Eriq King - King tore his ACL in the Cheez-It Bowl last season and is working to be ready for the first game. He transferred from Houston, where he had 2,982 passing yards, 36 TDs, 674 rushing yards and 14 TDs. With Miami in 2020, King had 2,686 passing yards for 23 TDs and 5 INTs and completed 64% of his passes.
WR: Charleston Rambo - He's a 6'1'' WR who originally played for Oklahoma. As a sophomore, Rambo had 43 catches for 743 yards and 5 TDs. His junior year saw a decline with 25 catches, 312 yards and 3 TDs. He will look to add a deep threat to King's arsenal.
Miami Hurricanes Key Players: Defense
S: Bubba Bolden - Bolden has great range and size but a troubling history of injuries. In 2020, he had a team-high 74 tackles and was given All-ACC honors. He is Miami's best defender and tackler.
DE: Deandre Johnson - Johnson is a transfer from Tennessee and will hope to be a playmaker to replace Phillips and Roche. Worst-case scenario: Johnson works in a rotation that's talented enough to make an impact.
2021-2022 Miami Hurricanes ACC schedule
Week 1: Saturday, September 4, vs Alabama
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs Appalachian State
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs Michigan State
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs Central Connecticut
Week 5: Thursday, September 30, vs Virginia
Week 6: Saturday, October 16, at UNC
Week 7: Saturday, October 23, vs NC State
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, at Pittsburgh
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, vs Georgia Tech
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, at Florida State
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, vs Virginia Tech
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, at Duke
2021-2022 Miami Hurricanes ACC prediction (10-2, 7-1 ACC)
If D'Eriq King is indeed ready to go for Alabama, they can run the table. NC State, UNC and Pitt could be a thorn in their side and they will lose to one of them. Miami should win the ACC Coastal to face Clemson. You can win the Coastal, but can you win the Championship?
North Carolina Tar Heels: ACC Coastal preview
The Tar Heels seem to be the only real competition for the ACC Coastal title.
North Carolina has the most efficient passing attacks in the ACC and finished fifth in the NCAA in total offense and ninth in scoring. Their offense averaged 537 yards and 42 points per game and has a Heisman-caliber QB in Sam Howell.
The top two receivers from last year got drafted and the Tar Heels will now rely on Khafre Brown (over 20 yards per catch) and TE Garrett Walston. The OL has all five starters returning but they need to improve on pass protection. Their two star RBs have also departed via the draft.
The defense lost Chazz Surratt and needs to focus on turnovers, more TFLs, and more red zone stops. At least the LBs have great potential. The secondary needs to get more than just a handful of INTs.
2021-2022 ACC Coastal preview: North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina's strength: QB Sam Howell is a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. He has 7,227 passing yards, 68 TDs and 14 INTs in two years with the Tar Heels. Howell is known to create stars on his offense and will have to work his magic with both Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome gone.
North Carolina's weakness: The defense can't give the offense the ball back. LBs and DBs are fantastic tacklers and are great at breaking up passes. They just need better hands to grab those deflected passes. The defense had eight INTs all season.
Miami Hurricanes Key Players: Offense
QB: Sam Howell - Howell almost went to FSU but changed his mind at the last moment. As a freshman, he threw for 3,600 yards, 38 TDs and seven INTs in a pro-style offense. He's got the arm, the grit and is a lock to be a first-round pick in the next draft. He gives UNC their best shot at unseating Clemson.
RB: Ty Chandler - Michael Carter and Javonte Williams were a powerful duo who both declared for the draft. Chandler comes in from Tennessee, where he racked up over 2,000 yards and 13 TDs in four years. He will look to surpass his career-best with UNC.
Miami Hurricanes Key Players: Defense
LB: Tomon Fox - At OLB, Fox stands 6'4'' and has the speed to get into the backfield ,and the power to fight against the run. Fox is a sixth-year player with 21.5 sacks in five years. He could make it three straight years with double-digit sacks.
LB: Eugene Asante - Asante bulked up to 220 pounds this year after having 24 total tackles and ten in the bowl game. Most of the defensive talent is returning and Asante could have a breakout role. UNC needs playmakers, not players though.
2021-2022 North Carolina Tar Heels ACC schedule
Week 1: Friday, September 3, at Virginia Tech
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs Georgia State
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs Virginia
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs Georgia Tech
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, vs Duke
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, vs Florida State
Week 7: Saturday, October 16, vs Miami
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, at Notre Dame
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, vs Wake Forest
Week 10: Thursday, November 11, at Pittsburgh
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, vs Wofford
Week 12: Saturday, November 26, at NC State
2021-2022 North Carolina Tar Heels ACC prediction (10-2, 7-1 ACC)
UNC will have seven wins before running into Notre Dame. Pitt could be the deciding factor in the UNC/Miami battle. If one of them loses to the Panthers, North Carolina can kiss the ACC Championship good-bye.
Sam Howell won't win the Heisman but he will make a case for top-ten pick if he gets UNC the ACC Coastal title.
Pittsburgh Panthers: ACC Coastal preview
The Pittsburgh Panthers ranked 13th in the 15-team 2020 ACC conference with 380 yards and 29 points per game. The passing game could be a top-five unit in the ACC this year.
Senior QB Kenny Pickett returns after 2400+ passing yards, 13 TDs and nine INTs. He has a solid WR group with Jordan Addison (60 catches), DJ Turner and TE Lucas Krull.
The issue lies in the run game, which averages just 120 yards per game. Their deep roster could find a diamond in the rough, though. Vincent Davis had 632 yards and six TDs, and AJ Davis followed it up with 266. QB Pickett is quite the goal-line threat with eight rushing TDs.
Their defense will be able to regroup after losing top stars, but it won't be easy. OLB John Morgan could be the next golden ticket. Defensive tackles Devin Danielson, Tyler Bentley and David Green will be an excellent group up front.
The secondary took a hit, losing both S Damar Hamlin and S Paris Ford.
2021-2022 ACC Coastal preview: Pittsburgh Panthers
Pittsburgh's strength: The linebackers are stellar could all be All-ACC: Cam Bright (4.5 sacks, 50 tackles, 7.5 TFLs), SirVocea Dennis (4 sacks, 55 tackles, 14 TFLs), and Phil Campbell (4.5 sacks, 45 tackles, 8.5 TFLs). Chase Pine could end up leading the team in tackles in 2021.
Pittsburgh's weakness: The run game is the weak link. In 2018, the Panthers averaged 5.6 yards per carry when they made the ACC Championship and had close to 3,200 total yards.
In 2019, they averaged 3.5 yards per carry for just over 1,500 yards. 2020 saw just 3.4 yards per carry and 1,319 total rushing yards (in two fewer games). The OL needs to help out and be more physical. The Vincent Davis/AJ Davis duo needs to click.
Pittsburgh Panthers Key Players: Offense
QB: Kenny Pickett - He throws too many INTs (25 in 39 games). Pickett is in his fifth year with the Panthers, fourth as the starter. Still, he's experienced and could work some wonders with the offense. He's mobile enough to make plays and magical at the goal-line. The Panthers need him to be clutch.
OT: Marcus Minor - The OL needs more aggression to improve the offense overall. Three starters return, but they need size and versatility. Minor is a transfer from Maryland and can swing as a guard or tackle. If he wins an inside job, he can help open the run lanes and give Pickett time in the pocket.
Pittsburgh Panthers Key Players: Defense
LB: SirVocea Dennis - Dennis is an elite ACC all-around LB. He's not the biggest, but is a superior athlete, finishing second on the team with 57 tackles. He possesses top-notch speed to get to the ball carrier in the backfield.
DE: Deslin Alexandre - Alexandre bulked up over the years but can line up as a quick DT or big DE. With Patrick Jones and Rashad Weaver out of the picture, the team needs Deslin to play both positions well.
2021-2022 Pittsburgh Panthers ACC schedule
Week 1: Saturday, September 4, vs UMass
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, at Tennessee
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs Western Michigan
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs New Hampshire
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, at Georgia Tech
Week 6: Saturday, October 16, at Virginia Tech
Week 7: Saturday, October 23, vs Clemson
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, vs Miami
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, at Duke
Week 10: Thursday, November 11, vs UNC
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, vs Virginia
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, at Syracuse
2021-2022 Pittsburgh Panthers ACC prediction (9-3, 6-2 ACC)
Pittsburgh will split wins between Miami and UNC, effectively taking out whichever outfit they beat. There will be a big loss to Clemson in the middle of the season. They'll score big wins over Tennessee, Georgia Tech and Miami. The Panthers could finish second in the ACC Coastal, but UNC has the title shot this time.
Virginia Cavaliers: ACC Coastal preview
Virginia's offense averaged 423 yards and 30 points per game in 2020 after getting hot late in the year. Their OL led the ACC in the fewest TFLs allowed and all five starters are back.
They are thin at RB and have an inaccurate QB who led the team in rushing. The defense allowed an average of 443 yards and 30 points/game, and the secondary is the highlight position.
2021-2022 ACC Coastal preview: Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia's strength: QB Keytaon Thompson is 6'4'' and a physical receiver who could be a situational talent. Lead WR Billy Kemp is 6'7'' and mans the slot. Lavel Davis averages 26 yards/catch and Oklahoma State transfer TE Jelani Woods will add more talent.
Virginia's weakness: QB Brennan Armstrong is not flashy or even consistent. His accuracy is dull, which hurts his game. The offense has playmakers but he needs to be able to distribute the ball well.
Virginia Cavaliers Key Players: Offense
WR: Billy Kemp - Kemp is a mid-range target who can help open up the field. He's 5'9'', 170 pounds and can run, return and start at the slot. He has consistent hands but isn't a burner.
TE: Jelani Woods - Woods replaces former Central Michigan transfer Tony Poljan. He's a huge blocker (6'7'', 275 pounds) and can be a mismatch receiver.
Virginia Cavaliers Key Players: Defense
S: Joey Blount - Blount is an All-ACC talent with 192 career tackles over three years. He's a veteran of the secondary and a natural leader. The defense is porous, but the secondary can help contain the big plays.
LB: Nick Jackson - Jackson led the team in tackles on his way to All-ACC honors. He'll look to fill the role of Zane Zandler at MLB.
2021-2022 Virginia Cavaliers ACC schedule
Week 1: Saturday, September 4, vs William & Mary
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs Illinois
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, at UNC
Week 4: Friday, September 24, vs Wake Forest
Week 5: Thursday, September 30, at Miami
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, at Louisville
Week 7: Saturday, October 16, vs Duke
Week 8: Saturday, October 23, vs Georgia Tech
Week 9: Saturday, October 30, at BYU
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, vs Notre Dame
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, at Pittsburgh
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, vs Virginia Tech
2021-2022 Virginia Cavaliers ACC prediction (7-5, 4-4 ACC)
It'll be a pretty average year for Virginia. They'll win the games they are supposed to and lose the ones where they are the underdog. Their real playmakers will develop this year and look to improve next year.
Virginia Tech Hokies: ACC Coastal preview
The Hokies' offense averaged 440 yards and 31 points per game in 2020. Their run game was surprisingly one of the best in the ACC.
Seven starters are returning and they have a good transfer portal. RB Khalil Herbert will be hard to replace and QB Hendon Hooker will be replaced by Braxton Burmeister. The former Oregon transfer is a strong passer with a decent group of receivers.
The OL is still being tweaked and may have issues. The defense will take advantage of their transfer portal to repackage the middle of their unit. They have a strong pass rush but have lost some quality playmakers.
2021-2022 ACC Coastal preview: Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech's strength: Former Rutgers RB Raheem Blackshear is a Swiss army knife in the backfield and had 255 yards for two TDs. He only averaged 3.75 yards/carry, though. Jalen Holston is poised for a big year as the speed guy. Paired together, these two could still give VT a great run game.
Virginia Tech's weakness: The secondary had to fair without CB Caleb Farley last year and are now without star safety Divine Deablo. The roster has enough talent to help the safeties, but the cornerbacks need to do more with all the depth they have.
Virginia Tech Key Players: Offense
QB: Braxton Burmeister - He lost his job in Oregon to Justin Herbert, sat out the 2019 season and saw little field time in 2020. Burmeister was great in the finale against Virginia, but he'll have to play even better to warrant being the full-time starter.
RB: Raheem Blackshear - With the backfield open for him to be the starter, he will have to improve his yards per carry. He averaged 6.1/carry as a freshman at Rutgers. That's the type of player VT needs out of Blackshear.
Virginia Tech Key Players: Defense
DE: Amare Barno - Barno's shift from LB to DE has turned his career around. He had a team-high 6.5 sacks and 16 TFLs with 43 tackles. The team loves that he is a hybrid who can operate all over the field.
S: Tae Daley - Daley won't replace Devine Deablo as a playmaker, but racks up the tackles and stats. He didn't play in 2020 but put up 57 tackles with three INTs in 2019.
2021-2022 Virginia Tech Hokies ACC prediction (5-7, 3-5 ACC)
Week 1: Friday, September 3, vs UNC
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs Middle Tennessee
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, at West VIrginia
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs Richmond
Week 5: Saturday, October 9, vs Notre Dame
Week 6: Saturday, October 16, vs Pittsburgh
Week 7: Saturday, October 23, vs Syracuse
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, at Georgia Tech
Week 9: Friday, November 5, at Boston College
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, vs Duke
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, at Miami
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, at Virginia
2021-2022 Virginia Tech Hokies prediction (5-7, 3-5 ACC)
Virginia Tech has the chance to churn out a good season, but they face UNC and WVU early on. They could pull off a win here or there with tough losses in between. At the very least, they won't be the worst team in the ACC Coastal.
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