​The ACC provided a bit of chaos ahead of last year’s College Football Playoff with Duke winning the ACC Championship game but missing out on the CFP with its 8-5 record.Miami sneaked into the field, using its Week 1 win over Notre Dame to leapfrog the Irish into playoff. Notre Dame blamed the ACC for lobbying for Miami’s CFP inclusion, threatening to take its ball and go home. While Notre Dame skipped its bowl game, the Hurricanes reached the national title game.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMiami poached standout QB Darian Mensah from Duke in the transfer portal and brings back plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball.Hayes: Notre Dame says jump. ACC asks how high. Inside CFB’s most dysfunctional relationship2026 preview: Big 12 predictions, preseason awards, all-conference teamsWe polled writers within the USA TODAY Network who cover ACC schools for their preseason predictions, all-conference teams and preseason awards.The Hurricanes are the favorite to return to the playoff and placed a league-high seven players on the USA TODAY Network All-ACC team ahead of the 2026 season, including Offensive Player of the Year Malachi Toney.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementClemsonVirginiaGeorgia TechFlorida StateNC StateWake ForestSyracuse* unanimous selectionQB: Darian Mensah, MiamiRB: Mark Fletcher, MiamiWR: Malachi Toney, Miami*OL: PJ Williams, SMU*OL: Joshua Bates, SMUOL: Lance Robinson, LouisvilleOL: Ryan Baer, PittDL: Ahmad Moten, MiamiLB: Braylan Lovelace, PittLB: Kam Robinson, VirginiaDB: Chris Peal, SyracuseDB: Tayon Holloway, LouisvilleDB: Ashton Hampton, ClemsonP: (tie) Daniel Sparks, Virginia and Dylan Joyce, MiamiHONORABLE MENTIONCal: TE Dorian ThomasClemson: WR Bryant Wesco Jr.; OL Brayden Jacobs; DB Corey MyrickDuke: LB Luke Mergott; P Kade ReynoldsFlorida State: DL Mandrell Desir; DB Ja’Bril Rawls; DB Ashlynd Barker; LB Chris JonesLouisville: TE Brody Foley; LB Antonio WattsMiami: LB Mohamed Toure; WR Cooper Barkate; OL Matthew McCoy; DB Xavier Lucas; DB Zechariah Poyser; OL Ryan RodriguezNC State: OL Jimarion McCrimonPitt: DB Cruce Brookins; OL BJ WilliamsSMU: QB Kevin Jennings; KR Yamir Knight; TE Randy Pittman; OL Addison NicholsSyracuse: P Jack StonehouseVirginia: DL Fisher Camac; OL Noah Josey; OL Monroe Mills; DL Zion WilsonVirginia Tech: DB Jacquez White; DL Kemari CopelandWR Malachi Toney, Miami. Toney is coming off a dynamic freshman season, catching 109 passes for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown and threw two more.Also receiving votes: QB Darian Mensah (Miami)LB Sammy Brown, Clemson. A 2025 All-American, Brown posted a team-high 106 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and five sacks, one forced fumble, six pass deflections and one interception. He has never missed a game in his career and is one of just 26 FBS players over the past 20 years to record at least five sacks and at least 10 tackles for loss as a freshman and a sophomore.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlso receiving vot