The 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference football season, part of the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season, was the 71st season of college football play for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The ACC consisted of 14 members, with California, Stanford, and SMU having been announced to join the ACC on July 1, 2024. The 2023 season was the first season without divisions since 2005 (other than the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season). The entire schedule was released on January 30, 2023.
Preseason
Recruiting classes + National rankings Team Rivals 24/7 On3 Recruits Total signeesBoston College 62 60 63 18Clemson 10 11 11 26Duke 53 55 62 26Florida State 26 19 20 18Georgia Tech 63 63 64 19Louisville 43 35 27 15Miami 7 7 6 24North Carolina 29 29 30 20NC State 37 40 35 18Pittsburgh 53 51 53 19Syracuse 97 84 76 16Virginia 59 64 67 21Virginia Tech 39 37 41 27Wake Forest 46 53 56 20
ACC Kickoff The 2023 ACC Kickoff was held on July 25 through 27 at the Westin hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. This year was the first year where the event expanded to three full interview days. Each team had their head coach and three players available to talk to the media. Coverage of the event was televised by the ACC Network. The preseason poll and preseason All-ACC Teams were released after the event, with the preseason poll being released on August 1, 2023.
1Clemson 2,370 (103) 2Florida State 2,304 (67) 3North Carolina 1,981 (5) 4NC State 1,662 (1) 5Miami 1,553 6Duke 1,511Pittsburgh 8Louisville 1,344 9Wake Forest 1,181 10Syracuse 826 11Virginia Tech 678 12Georgia Tech 633 13Boston College 561 14Virginia 365
Preseason ACC Player of the year Source:
Ranking Player Position Team Votes 1 Drake Maye QB North Carolina 88 2 Jordan Travis Florida State 66 3 Will Shipley RB Clemson 17 4 Jeremiah Trotter Jr. LB 3 5 Riley Leonard QB Duke 1 Tyler Davis DT Clemson
Preseason all-conference teams
Source:
Offense
Position Player School Votes Quarterback Drake Maye North Carolina 107 Running back Will Shipley Clemson 196 Trey Benson Florida State 125 Wide receiver Johnny Wilson Florida State 117 Devontez Walker North Carolina 51 Jalon Calhoun Duke 49 Tight end Oronde Gadsden II Syracuse 89 All-Purpose Will Shipley Clemson 105 Tackle Graham Barton Duke 110 Matt Goncalves Pittsburgh 58 Guard Christian Mahogany Boston College 101 Javion Cohen Miami 69 Center Bryan Hudson Louisville 56
Defense
Position Player School Votes Defensive end Jared Verse Florida State 136 Donovan Ezeiruaku Boston College 58 Defensive tackle Tyler Davis Clemson 124 DeWayne Carter Duke 97 Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Clemson 132 Cedric Gray North Carolina 109 Barrett Carter Clemson 87 Cornerback Fentrell Cypress II Florida State 88 Aydan White NC State 85 Safety Kamren Kinchens Miami 117 Andrew Mukuba Clemson 46
Specialist Position Player School Votes Placekicker Andres Borregales Miami 70 Punter Daniel Sparks Virginia 54 Specialist Will Shipley Clemson 68
Preseason awards
All−American Teams
AP 1st TeamAP 2nd TeamAS 1st TeamAS 2nd TeamWCFF 1st TeamWCFF 2nd Team ESPNCBS 1st TeamCBS 2nd TeamCFN 1st TeamCFN 2nd TeamPFF 1st TeamPFF 2nd Team PFF 3rd TeamSN 1st TeamSN 2nd Team Graham Barton, OT, Duke Trey Benson, RB, Florida State Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson DeWayne Carter, DT, Duke Fentrell Cypress, CB, Florida State Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson Oronde Gadsden, TE, Syracuse Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami (FL) Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina R.J. Mickens, S, Clemson Will Shipley, RB, Clemson Leonard Taylor III, DT, Miami (FL) Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson Jared Verse, DE, Florida State James Williams, S, Miami (FL) Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
Preseason award watchlists
Lott Trophy Barrett Carter Clemson LB Jr. DeWayne Carter Duke DL Sr. Jared Verse Florida State DE Sr. Kamren Kinchens Miami S Jr. Cedric Gray North Carolina LB Sr. Chico Bennett Virginia DEDodd Trophy Mack Brown North Carolina — — Dave Clawson Wake Forest Dave Doeren NC State Mike Norvell Florida State Dabo Swinney ClemsonMaxwell Award Will Shipley Clemson RBJr. Riley Leonard DukeQB Jordan TravisFlorida State Sr. Trey Benson RB Jr. Jack Plummer LouisvilleQB Sr. Drake Maye North Carolina So. Phil Jurkovec PittsburghSr. Garrett ShraderSyracuse Oronde Gadsden II TEJr. Donavon Greene Wake Forest QB Davey O'Brien Award Cade Klubnik Clemson QB So. Riley Leonard Duke Jr. Jordan Travis Florida State Sr. Drake Maye North Carolina So. Garrett Shrader Syracuse Sr. Doak Walker Award Pat Garwo Boston College RB Gs. Will Shipley Clemson Jr. Trey Benson Florida State Dontae Smith Georgia Tech Sr. Jawhar Jordan Louisville Jr. Rodney Hammond Jr. Pittsburgh LeQuint Allen Syracuse So. Bhayshul Tuten Virginia Tech Jr. Justice Ellison Wake Forest Biletnikoff Award Ryan O'Keefe Boston College WR Sr. Jalon Calhoun Duke Sr. Keon Coleman Florida State Jr. Johnny Wilson Jamari Thrash Louisville Devontez Walker North Carolina Bradley Rozner NC State Gs. Oronde Gadsden II Syracuse TE Jr. Ali Jennings III Virginia Tech WR Sr. Jaylin Lane John Mackey Award George Takacs Boston College TE Gs. Jake Briningstool Clemson So. Jaheim Bell Florida StateJr. John Copenhaver North Carolina Bryson Nesbit Trent Pennix NC State Gs. Gavin Bartholomew Pittsburgh Jr. Nick Gallo Virginia Tech Sr. Rimington Trophy Will Putnam Clemson C Gs. Jacob Monk Duke Maurice Smith Florida State Jr. Bryan Hudson Louisville Sr. Matthew Lee Miami Dylan McMahon NC State Jr. Jake Kradel Pittsburgh Sr.Butkus Award Barrett Carter Clemson LB So. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Jr. Tatum Bethune Florida State Sr. Cedric Gray North Carolina Sr. Payton Wilson NC State Jr. Marlowe Wax Syracuse So.
Jim Thorpe Award Andrew Mukuba Clemson S Jr. Fentrell Cypress Florida State CB Kamren Kinchens Miami S Aydan White NC State CBBronko Nagurski Trophy Barrett Carter Clemson LB Jr. DeWayne Carter Duke DT Jr. Fentrell Cypress II Florida State CB Sr. Tyler Davis Clemson DT Sr. Donovan Ezeiruaku Boston College DE Jr. Cedric Gray North Carolina LB Sr. Kam Kinchens Miami SJr. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Clemson LB Jared Verse Florida State DE Aydan White N.C. State CB So.Outland Trophy Jeremiah Byers Florida State OT Jr. Javion Cohen Miami G Tyler Davis Clemson DT Sr. Matt Goncalves Pitt OT Sr. Bryan Hudson Louisville C Sr. Christian Mahogany Boston College G Jr. Ruke Orhorhoro Clemson DT GSLou Groza Award Andrés Borregales MiamiPK Jr. Ryan Coe North CarolinaSr. Brayden Narveson N.C. State Ben Sauls Pitt Jr.Ray Guy Award Alex Mastromanno Florida StateP Jr. Ben Kiernan North Carolina GS Daniel Sparks Virginia Sr. Ivan Mora Wake Forest Jr. Max Von Marburg Syracuse So. Peter Moore Virginia Tech Jr. Porter Wilson Duke GS Paul Hornung Award Ryan O'Keefe Boston College WR Sr. Will Shipley Clemson RB Jr. Jaylen Stinson Duke S Sr. Jawhar Jordan Louisville RB Jr. M.J. Devonshire Pittsburgh CB Sr. Trebor Pena Syracuse WR So. Jaylin Lane Virginia Tech Sr. Wuerffel Trophy Will Shipley Clemson RB Jr. Ja'Mion Franklin Duke DT Sr. Jared Verse Florida State DE Sr. LaMiles Brooks Georgia Tech DB Jr. Ashton Gillotte Louisville DE Kamren Kinchens Miami S Joseph Shimko NC State LS Sr. Elijah Green North Carolina RB Jr. Kaimon Rucker LB Sr. David Green Pittsburgh DT Sr. Gavin Bartholomew TE Jr. Garrett Shrader Syracuse QB Sr. Chico Bennett Jr. Virginia DE Gs. Matt Johnson Virginia Tech LB Sr. Jaylen Hudson Wake Forest Jr. Walter Camp Award Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Clemson LB Jr. Jordan Travis Florida State QB Sr. Jared Verse DE Drake Maye North Carolina QB So.
Bednarik Award Donovan Ezeiruaku Boston College DE Jr. Barrett Carter Clemson LB Jr. Tyler Davis DT Sr. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. LB Jr. DeWayne Carter Duke DT Sr. Jared Verse Florida State DE Jr. LaMiles Brooks Georgia Tech DB Jr. Kamren Kinchens Miami S Jr. Leonard Taylor III DL So. Cedric Gray North Carolina LB Sr. Aydan White NC State CB Jr. Payton Wilson LB Jr. M.J. Devonshire Pittsburgh DB Sr. Marlowe Wax Syracuse LB So. Chico Bennett Jr. Virginia DE Gs. Rotary Lombardi Award Christian Mahogany Boston College OG Gs. Barrett Carter Clemson LB Jr. Tyler Davis DT Gs. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. LB Jr. Graham Barton Duke OT Sr. DeWayne Carter DT Sr. D'Mitri Emmanuel Florida State OG Jared Verse DE Jr. Cedric Gray North Carolina LB Sr. Marlowe Wax Syracuse Jr. Michael Jurgens Wake Forest OG Sr. Patrick Mannelly Award James Rosenberry Florida State Jr. LS Drew Little North Carolina Gs. Joe Shimko NC State Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Ryan O'Keefe Boston College WR Gs. Cade Klubnik Clemson QB So. Bradley Rozner NC State WR Gs. Polynesian College Football Player Of The Year Award Lawrance Toafili Florida State RB Jr. Jermayne Lole Louisville DL Gs. Francis Mauigoa Miami (FL) OL Fr. Francisco Mauigoa LB Jr. Josh Ilaoa Syracuse OL Jr. Aaron Faumui Virginia DL Gs. Manning Award Riley Leonard Duke QB Jr. Jordan Travis Florida State Sr. Drake Maye North Carolina So. Garrett Shrader Syracuse Jr. Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Riley Leonard Duke QB Jr. Jordan Travis Florida State Sr. Tyler Van Dyke Miami So. Drake Maye North Carolina So. Brennan Armstrong NC State Gs. Phil Jurkovec Pittsburgh Sr. Garrett Shrader Syracuse Grant Wells Virginia Tech Sr. Mitch Griffis Wake Forest Fr.
Coaches
Coaching changes The ACC entered the 2023 season with two new head football coaches:
On September 25, 2022, Georgia Tech fired head coach Geoff Collins and was replaced by interim head coach Brent Key. On November 29, 2022, Key was hired as the next head coach. On December 5, 2022, Cincinnati hired Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield and was replaced by former Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm on December 7, 2022.
Head coaching records
Team Head coach Years at school Overall record Record at school ACC record Boston College Jeff Hafley 4 15–20 15–20 9–17 Clemson Dabo Swinney 15 161–39 161–39 99–19 Duke Mike Elko 2 9–4 9–4 5–3 Florida State Mike Norvell 4 56–31 18–16 11–13 Georgia Tech Brent Key 2 4–4 4–4 4–3 Louisville Jeff Brohm 1 66–44 0–0 0–0 Miami Mario Cristobal 2 67–67 5–7 3–5 North Carolina Mack Brown 15 274–144–1 99–68–1 61–49–1 NC State Dave Doeren 11 95–58 72–54 38–44 Pittsburgh Pat Narduzzi 9 62–41 62–41 41–25 Syracuse Dino Babers 8 73–65 36–49 18–39 Virginia Tony Elliot 2 3–7 3–7 1–6 Virginia Tech Brent Pry 2 3–8 3–8 1–6 Wake Forest Dave Clawson 10 149–132 59–53 29–42
Rankings
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol
Pre Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 FinalBoston College AP C CFP Not released Clemson AP 9 25 RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 20C 9 21 22 23 RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 20CFP Not released 24 23 Duke AP RV 21 21 18 17 19 17 16 20 RV RVC RV 24 20 18 16 21 18 17 21 RV RV RVCFP Not released Florida State AP 8 4 (3) 3 (3) 4 (1) 5 (3) 5 (4) 4 (1) 4 (1) 4 (3) 4 (3) 4 (2) 4 5 4 4 6тC 8 5 3 3 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 6CFP Not released 4 4 4 5 4 5 Georgia Tech AP C CFP Not released Louisville AP RV RV RV RV 25 14 21 18 15 11 9 9 15 16 19C RV RV RV RV 25 15 21 18 15 11 9 9 14 15 18CFP Not released 13 11 10 10 14 Miami AP RV RV 22 20 18 17 25 RV RV RV C RV RV 23 21 18 17 RV RV RV RV CFP Not released North Carolina AP 21 17 20 17 15 14 12 10 17 RV 24 22 RV RV C 20 16 18 17 15 13 12 10 17 25 23 20 RV RVCFP Not released 24 20 NC State AP RV RV RV RV RV 21т 19 21C RV RV RV RV 24 20 18 21CFP Not released 22 19 Pittsburgh AP RV RV C RV RV CFP Not released Syracuse AP RV RV C RV RV RV CFP Not released Virginia AP C CFP Not released Virginia Tech AP C CFP Not released Wake Forest AP C RV RV RV RV CFP Not released
Schedule The regular season began on August 31, 2023, and ended on November 25, 2023. The ACC Championship Game will be played on Saturday December 2, 2023, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Regular season