Top 5 ACC College Football Teams of the 2025-2026 Season
The ACC is always the dark horse conference to make it into the college football playoffs. Upsets are common in the conference and the ACC title is up for grabs.
Here are the top 5 ACC college football teams of the 2025-2026 season. Check out the strengths and weaknesses of these teams and use bookmaker ratings to help place your bets.
5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
In 2024, PEM picked Georgia Tech as the best of the conference, but came up short. This year, they’re still one of the top 5 ACC college football teams of the 2025-2026 season.
Under Brent Key, the Yellow Jackets have shown steady improvement and now have a strong running game and offensive line. However, the defense let them down last year and it will need cast improvements to win the conference titles.
If Georgia Tech can lean on their strong offense, they can find themselves in the hunt for the conference championship.
4. Louisville Cardinals
There has been some buzz this off-season around the Louisville Cardinals. Many top CFB experts have them on their top 5 ACC college football teams of the 2025-2026 season.
Coach Jeff Brohm has built a balanced team that can compete on offense and defense with talented players. Last season, they were competitive, but they still need to prove that they can beat top-tier teams.
The Cardinals biggest test of the year will be a highly-touted game against Clemson that will have title implications.
3. Miami Hurricanes
As usual, the Miami Hurricanes are among the top 5 ACC college football teams of the 2025-2026 season. Last year, they had a Heisman contender QB and a powerful offense that many thought would make the playoffs.
Unfortunately, the Hurricanes fell apart late last season and Cam Ward blew his Heisman chances. This year, Miami still has a lot of talent of both sides of the ball that they will need to make it to a conference title.
Miami has a tough schedule and need to get through Florida State, California, and Stanford to win it all.
2. SMU Mustangs
Over 30 years after receiving the death penalty, the SMU Mustangs are back and better than ever. They have found new life in the ACC and are now battling for the conference title.
Last season, SMU went 8-0 during the regular season in the ACC. Rhett Lashlee has proven that he knows how to maximize talent and has built a powerful offense.
The Mustangs will need to shore up their defense and take out Clemson in order to win it all.
1. Clemson Tigers
The reigning conference champs are still #1 of the top 5 ACC college football teams of the 2025-2026 season. Dabo Sweeney has built one of the best eras of Clemson Tiger football in the school’s history.
Last year, they had a great year and performed in numerous high-stake games. They beat arch-rival South Carolina and took SMU’s best game to win the ACC title and make the college playoffs.
This year, everyone expects the same high-level of play from Clemson and be in another conference title game.
