From SBNation article: Alabama, LSU and Clemson lead the way in 1-128 projected 2016 rankings

Quote:The ACC's making moves.

The Big Ten finished second behind the SEC in last year's S&P+, but with Ohio State and Michigan State regrouping, the conference is projected to regress. The SEC's offenses, meanwhile, will be far more experienced on average than they were, and of course the SEC gets the requisite recruiting bump. The conference's lead should increase next fall.

But look out for the ACC. Not only did it make a lot of impressive coaching hires, it also returns quite a bit of last year's production.

Projected conference S&P+ averages:

SEC (12.8, up 2.8 from 2015)
ACC (9.2, up 2.5)
Pac-12 (8.3, up 1.4)
Big 12 (7.7, up 2.6)
Big Ten (7.0, down 0.4)
AAC (-1.4, up 0.7)
MWC (-4.5, down 0.3)
MAC (-5.8, down 2.2)
Sun Belt (-8.3, down 0.8)
Conference USA (-8.3, down 0.2)

Clemson and FSU both project as top-five teams, and five teams project between 20th and 32nd. More importantly, only one projects worse than 70th (Wake Forest, a decent 74th!). The ACC's strength has been its depth, and next year it could have especially impressive depth and two national title contenders.

Thanks good read.

Anyone who has UH starting out as #53 should be ignored out of hand. They have most players returning plus a top 35 recruiting class for a one loss team that manhandled FSU in Access bowl.

Opinions vary

(02-09-2016 09:19 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  Anyone who has UH starting out as #53 should be ignored out of hand. They have most players returning plus a top 35 recruiting class for a one loss team that manhandled FSU in Access bowl.

Houston should start off as a top 20 team for sure.

(02-09-2016 09:19 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  Anyone who has UH starting out as #53 should be ignored out of hand. They have most players returning plus a top 35 recruiting class for a one loss team that manhandled FSU in Access bowl.

To be far the FSU loss was more injuries than UH being better. I would put UH as a top 15 team starting out hopefully Louisville will knock them off.

The ACC is definitely headed up....

Honestly, I think the Clemson-FSU winner next year has a good chance of winning the NC

North Carolina, Miami, and Louisville are all capable of being top 25 teams (if not higher)

Virginia, Duke, and Pitt could make waves as well....

And Georgia Tech could always rise and have a good season

Wait, since this thread is titled "ACC Football 'Making Moves'" -- did the ACC extend an invitation to Houston and I missed it?

Clemson is tops
FSU is right under

I kind of expect Louisville to be better
Same with Miami
Somewhat the same with Pitt

Jury is out on North Carolina until we see the new QB play alot.
Jury is out on Georgia Tech until we see how the OL looks.
Jury is still out on Virginia until we see how Mendenhall's style meshes with players he didn't recruit (buy-in)

Everyone else... basketball season starts in November 2016.

No love for the Hokies, huh?
Some say Fuente was the best hire in the off-season.
No quarter asked, none given.