The 2024 ACC soccer season can be not like something within the league’s historical past. Now at 17 groups with the additions of Cal, Stanford and SMU, the convention spans from coast-to-coast. It contains a different make-up of packages with every kind of expectations heading into the autumn. There are a number of jobs with new coaches because the finish of 2023 and some groups with coaches nonetheless early of their tenures, but additionally ACC mainstays like Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, NC State’s Dave Doeren and — if we’re counting each the Nineteen Nineties and the present run — North Carolina’s Mack Brown. 

The league additionally enters 2024 with a chip on its shoulder after Florida State completed the common season as a 13-0 convention champion however was disregarded of the Faculty Soccer Playoff; the 2023 Seminoles have been the primary energy convention program to hold that unfavorable distinction. After all, the ‘Noles have a little bit of an advanced relationship with the league in the mean time. The varsity was the primary to problem the Grant of Rights settlement — probably placing collectively an exit technique from the league — by suing the ACC earlier than Clemson adopted go well with. These items have little or no to do with the work being put in throughout spring observe proper now, however the chaos of potential convention realignment looms giant round these packages off the sphere. 

So, whereas the present state of affairs within the ACC is unprecedented and the long run is unknown, these issues have to be put to the aspect so we are able to deal with the coaches, gamers and storylines that can decide how issues shake out within the fall. Let’s dive in to the important thing spring questions for all 17 ACC groups. 

How will Invoice O’Brien’s arrival influence Thomas Castellanos? Although he was not the beginning quarterback initially of the 12 months, it didn’t take lengthy for the previous UCF quarterback to cement himself as QB1 in Chestnut Hill. Castellanos gave the Eagles’ offense an additional dimension together with his skill to make performs on the transfer; by the top of the season, he had racked up 1,103 speeding yards and 13 speeding touchdowns. There may be nonetheless loads of room for Castellanos to enhance since he additionally threw 14 interceptions and accomplished simply 57.3% % of his passes, however these areas are locations the place it is anticipated O’Brien will have an effect. As head coach for a few of Deshaun Watson’s extra profitable NFL seasons and the offensive coordinator for Bryce Younger’s Heisman Trophy-winning season at Alabama, O’Brien has the profile to have the ability to information Castellanos to the following stage of his improvement. 

Cal 

Can Fernando Mendoza carry over final 12 months’s progress? A redshirt freshman in 2023, Mendoza took over the beginning quarterback job for the ultimate eight video games of the season and carried out adequately. He had 14 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, accomplished 63% of his passes and helped information the Bears to a few straight wins to shut the common season (Washington State, at Stanford, at UCLA) and end bowl eligible at 6-6. The offense can be anchored by Jadyn Ott, who enters 2024 as one of the confirmed operating backs within the nation, but it surely’s clear that Justin Wilcox and the offensive teaching workers need to enhance the passing sport; they’d not have introduced in Chandler Rogers from North Texas in the event that they believed in any other case. Rogers is a redshirt senior who threw 29 touchdowns to simply 5 interceptions final 12 months for the Imply Inexperienced, and whereas Mendoza has expertise in this system, it’s Rogers who has the general expertise and manufacturing edge within the battle.  

Clemson 

Can Cade Klubnik stage up his sport? Clemson’s teaching workers is difficult Klubnik, the previous five-star prospect who enters his junior season with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as a Tiger, and searching for him to enhance in a number of methods with the intention to unlock the offense’s full potential. They need Klubnik to get stronger and have extra pocket consciousness (he took 28 sacks in 2023) in addition to get a greater really feel for situational soccer after a few of his extra disappointing moments got here in key spots of shut losses. This isn’t a one-man state of affairs, although; Clemson wants go catchers and a strong offensive line to assist Klubnik in these efforts. Given his blue-chip pedigree, it is honest to search for an enormous step ahead from the Tigers quarterback in his second full season as a starter. 

Duke 

Will Maalik Murphy show to be a splash switch signing? The outlook on Murphy has taken a number of twists and turns during the last 12 months. It began with beating out Arch Manning for the backup quarterback position at Texas behind Quinn Ewers — and doing so with some pretty spectacular spring observe critiques — earlier than lastly having his quantity referred to as when Ewers obtained damage in late October. Murphy went 2-0 as a starter in Ewers’ absence, however the efficiency throughout these two video games was blended with highs and lows. The mix of his bodily expertise and restricted on-field expertise (71 go makes an attempt throughout seven video games) made Murphy one of many extra intriguing switch portal quarterbacks. His dedication to Duke was seen as a win for first-year coach Manny Diaz. Now, in spring observe, we are able to start to see how a lot a win that portal signing was and whether or not it will probably dramatically change the ground or ceiling for Duke’s offense in 2024. 

Florida State

Which difference-makers emerge at vast receiver? If we’re keen to imagine that DJ Uiagalalei goes to take over for Jordan Travis at quarterback, the most important query for Florida State’s offense goes to be changing the manufacturing of a number of NFL Draft-bound go catchers. Florida State’s three main receivers — Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson and Jaheim Bell — mixed to account for 50% of all of the receptions from final season, 51% of the receiving yards and 60% of the landing catches. The “good downside to have” side is there are alternatives, each from the portal with former Alabama vast receiver Malik Benson but additionally from the much-improved highschool recruiting pipeline as former five-star prospect Hykeem Williams will get extra work in his sophomore season. 

How does the passing assault construct on the success of 2023? Quarterback Haynes King proved to be an impressed addition for Brent Key as King oversaw an offense that had one of many greatest single-season enhancements within the ACC. King threw for two,842 yards and 27 touchdowns, and never solely is he again, however so are lots of the key go catchers from final season. Main receiver Eric Singleton Jr. returns after a freshman marketing campaign that noticed him end second in ACC Offensive Rookie of the Yr voting and earn Freshman All-America honors from 247Sports. The Yellow Jackets even have Malik Rutherford and Christian Leary again as nicely, which units the stage for Georgia Tech to have one of many high passing assaults within the convention. So, the important thing to assembly these expectations begins with taking the following step right here in spring, and that is considered one of many objectives for the Yellow Jackets over the following couple weeks. 

What transfers emerge as the highest difference-makers? For the second 12 months in a row, Louisville has loaded up on switch portal expertise to present the Cardinals their finest probability at remaining aggressive with out having to reboot the roster. Of the 26 switch portal signees, 24 are with the group for spring observe. Amongst that group are loads of gamers anticipated to be key contributors in 2024. Edge rusher Tyler Baron from Tennessee and vast receiver Ja’Corey Brooks from Alabama are the headliners, however there’s additionally sixth-year quarterback Tyler Shough, now on his third energy convention cease after two years at Oregon and three at Texas Tech. Which of those gamers gels one of the best with the present group — Shough didn’t begin spring ball absolutely wholesome, it must be famous — can be informative for what to anticipate from Jeff Brohm’s group as they eye a return journey to the ACC Championship Recreation. 

Is Cam Ward the important thing to a Mario Cristobal breakthrough season? When Miami employed Mario Cristobal away from Oregon, the South Florida native and former Hurricanes offensive lineman bought a imaginative and prescient of returning “The U” to the land of championship competition. However in two seasons with Cristobal on the helm, Miami has but to smell even convention title competition, going 6-10 in ACC play and 12-13 general throughout 2022 and 2023. Quarterback Cam Ward selected Miami after initially declaring for the NFL Draft, and one of the best of his efficiency at Washington State means that he is the form of electrical playmaker wanted to wind up on the successful aspect of shut video games. Miami is loaded up alongside each strains of scrimmage and has a pair of high-end vast receivers with Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George, so the desk is about for Ward to have a very good season. In that case, Miami could possibly be a darkish horse to achieve the degrees Cristobal spoke of and contend for an ACC title in 2024.  

North Carolina

Who replaces Drake Maye? Mack Brown has loved 5 consecutive seasons of getting future NFL expertise at quarterback, and although he held open competitions previous to naming each Sam Howell and Drake Maye the starter, this does really feel like essentially the most uncertainty there’s been on the place since his return to Chapel Hill. One of many earliest switch portal pickups within the offseason cycle for the Tar Heels was Max Johnson, who brings 30 video games (22 begins) of expertise throughout 4 seasons at LSU and Texas A&M that noticed him amass 47 touchdowns and greater than 5,800 passing yards. Johnson’s main competitors seems to be redshirt sophomore Conner Harrell, who confirmed potential as a starter within the bowl sport with Maye out however lacks the expertise and manufacturing that Johnson brings to the desk. 

NC State

Can the Wolfpack keep success with a retooled roster? NC State has advanced into a gradual and dependable winner, totaling 34 wins during the last 4 seasons with two top-25 finishes. It is a program that has logged current wins in opposition to each Clemson and Florida State, and in 2024 has a positive schedule draw with some eyeing the potential of competing for an ACC title. However doing so requires robust work this spring for a roster that has largely been retooled with 32 new gamers (transfers and early enrollees) becoming a member of the group for spring ball. Among the many notable additions is former Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall, who at his peak was breaking the FBS go effectivity file on the time however has handled accidents in recent times. The inspiration of his program is strong and the portal additions — McCall included — deal with some wants. However capitalizing on a seemingly favorable schedule requires bringing everybody up to the mark this spring. 

Pitt

Is a bounce-back season in retailer in 2024? Pat Narduzzi was on a run of churning out constant successful seasons, making six bowls in eight years with an ACC championship in 2021 and top-25 finishes in each 2021 and 2022. That is what made final 12 months’s 3-9 season so disorienting. Now, there’s an assumption for a bounce again due to Narduzzi’s commonplace, however there usually are not plenty of apparent solutions for the way this group takes an enormous step ahead. One place to begin is on offense the place new offensive coordinator Kade Bell has arrived from Western Carolina with a brand new scheme that is reportedly a bit extra up-tempo and simpler to put in than what the Panthers have been working with the final couple of seasons. Pitt ranked final within the ACC in each complete offense and scoring final season, so getting the offense proper is a good place to begin the turnaround efforts. 

Is Preston Stone poised to be the ACC’s breakout star in 2024? Of the three newcomers to the convention, the one which enters with essentially the most momentum is SMU after successful AAC title on their means out of the league in 2023. If SMU goes to have a profitable debut as an ACC member, then it would possible embrace a powerful exhibiting from quarterback Preston Stone, who checked plenty of bins throughout his first season as a starter. Stone ranked within the top-15 nationally for each passing touchdowns (28) and passer score (161.3), and had 9 video games with a number of landing passes throughout his 12 begins earlier than a season-ending harm within the regular-season finale. He began spring observe restricted as he continues to recuperate from that damaged leg, however coach Rhett Lashlee is happy together with his progress and he is been capable of get in some particular person work with hope of moving into 7-on-7 earlier than the top of spring. Stone’s well being is a key to SMU using the momentum of an AAC title into its ACC period, so getting him again in rhythm is an enormous offseason storyline for the Mustangs.

Stanford

Can Elijah Brown push for the beginning job? Each Ashton Daniels and Justin Lamson are again after sharing the quarterback duties all through the primary 12 months of the Troy Taylor period in Paolo Alto, California. Daniels was the simpler passer, however he had simply 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions and each quarterbacks have been vital components of the speeding assault for a Cardinal offense that ranked close to the underside of the Pac-12 in each scoring (eleventh) and complete offense (tenth). Enter Elijah Brown, a four-star prospect from California energy home Mater Dei Excessive College with two state championships to his identify. As an early enrollee, he’ll get a crack on the beginning job this spring. When there is a top-end pass-catching choice like 1,000-yard receiver Elic Ayomanor at your disposal, it turns into essential that Stanford take benefit with high quality quarterback play. 

Can Kyle McCord get in sync with Oronde Gadsden? First-year coach Fran Brown has carried out some essential work within the switch portal, however in the case of projecting how issues are going to go in Yr 1, there’s a heightened significance on getting quarterback proper. Nicely, the Orange have a succesful choice with former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord. All eyes are going to be on how McCord establishes chemistry with Oronde Gadsden, the hybrid tight end-wide receiver who was first group All-ACC in 2022 however suffered a season-ending harm within the second sport of 2023. When wholesome, Gadsden is likely one of the finest pass-catchers within the league. Being on the identical web page as McCord is essential to the Syracuse offense reaching its ceiling. 

Does Virginia have the following future professional WR on the roster? The quarterback debate between Tony Muskett and Anthony Colandrea has stuffed extra minutes on the Cowl 3 Podcast than you’d anticipate, however when projecting ahead, there’s a extra urgent matter for Virginia’s offense. Malik Washington caught 110 passes final season and totaled 1,400 receiving yards, however now he is within the NFL Draft course of whereas his former teammate, Malachi Fields, enters spring with an expectation to take over as WR1. Fields was second on the group in receptions (58), receiving yards (811) and landing catches (5) final season, and the expectation is he’ll see a rise in all three classes as the results of a extra vital workload with Washington off to the NFL. 

Can the on-field product match the off-field buzz? The darkish horse dialog within the ACC heading into 2024 contains Virginia Tech as a result of there’s proof of idea in Brent Pry’s plan and the schedule units up favorably to enter November with a spot within the ACC title race. The Hokies have a great deal of talent expertise again from a gaggle that exceeded expectations in 2023 with a 5-3 convention file and a bowl win, making Virginia Tech a group that everybody is keeping track of this spring. It has been some time since Virginia Tech has entered a season with some legit hype, but when the on-paper strengths play out on the sphere, this is likely one of the most harmful groups within the league. 

Which quarterback can seize their alternative? Wake Forest has two veteran quarterbacks vying for the beginning job: one who has been a little bit of a journeyman and one other who has spent greater than 5 years in this system. Each Hank Bachmeier, the previous Boise State and Louisiana Tech quarterback, and Michael Kern, an early enrollee at Wake again in January 2019, appear to be the favorites for the beginning position. The query for Dave Clawson and his offensive workers is whether or not they see extra bonuses from the participant skilled within the system or the participant with extra expertise on Saturdays within the fall. Bachmeier has appeared in 38 video games whereas Kern has simply 16 video games below his belt, and each are on their sixth 12 months of faculty soccer. Nonetheless, Kern has proven flashes of the potential that drew the teaching workers’s consideration to him as a recruit. This spring is all about which veteran signal-caller can seize maintain of the QB1 duties.