2016 Atlantic Coast Conference football season


The 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference football season will be the 64th season of college football play for the Atlantic Coast Conference. It will be played from September 2016 to January 2017. The Atlantic Coast Conference consists of 14 members in two divisions. The Atlantic Division consists of Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina State, Syracuse, and Wake Forest. The Coastal Division consists of Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. The two division champions will meet on December 3 in the 2016 ACC Championship Game. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, but on September 14 the conference announced that the game would be moved to a neutral venue outside of North Carolina due to the controversy surrounding the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act.

Preseason

Preseason Poll

The 2016 ACC Preseason Poll was announced following the ACC Football Kickoff meetings in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 21–22. North Carolina and Clemson were each selected to repeat in their respective divisions. Deshaun Watson of Clemson was once again voted the Preseason ACC Player of the Year. It was voted on by 191 media members, all of which were in attendance for the ACC Football Kickoff.

Atlantic Division poll

  1. Clemson – 1,293
  2. Florida State – 1,176
  3. Louisville – 961
  4. North Carolina State – 704
  5. Boston College – 441
  6. Syracuse – 426
  7. Wake Forest – 347

    Coastal Division poll

  8. North Carolina – 1,238
  9. Miami – 1,108
  10. Pittsburgh – 859
  11. Virginia Tech – 697
  12. Duke – 597
  13. Georgia Tech – 588
  14. Virginia – 261

    Preseason ACC Player of the Year

  15. Deshaun Watson, CLEM – 164
  16. Dalvin Cook, FSU – 18
  17. Elijah Hood, UNC – 4
  18. Brad Kaaya, MIA – 2
  19. Lamar Jackson, LOU – 2
  20. DeVon Edwards, DU – 1

    Preseason All Conference Teams

Offense

Defense

Specialist

Coaches

Note: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season
TeamHead coachYears at schoolOverall recordRecord at schoolACC record
Boston CollegeSteve Addazio427–2314–128–16
ClemsonDabo Swinney961–2661–2648–14
DukeDavid Cutcliffe984–7740–4824–40
Florida StateJimbo Fisher658–1158–1140–8
Georgia TechPaul Johnson9166–7458–3538–26
LouisvilleBobby Petrino7104–3962–1812–6
MiamiMark Richt1145–510–00–0
North CarolinaLarry Fedora555–3621–1721–11
NC StateDave Doeren434–1811–146–18
PittsburghPat Narduzzi28–58–56–2
SyracuseDino Babers137–160–00–0
VirginiaBronco Mendenhall199–430–00–0
Virginia TechJustin Fuente126–230–00–0
Wake ForestDave Clawson393–883–92–14

Rankings

Postseason

Bowl games

* Rankings based on CFP rankings

All-conference teams

First Team
Second Team
Third Team

ACC individual awards

ACC Player of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Coach of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Defensive Player of the Year
Defensive Rookie of the Year

Home game attendance

Bold – Exceeded capacity
†Season High

NFL Draft

Round #Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
12Chicago BearsMitchell TrubiskyQuarterbackNorth Carolina
17Los Angeles ChargersMike WilliamsWide ReceiverClemson
112Houston TexansDeshaun WatsonQuarterbackClemson
129Cleveland BrownsDavid NjokuTight EndMiami
241Minnesota VikingsDalvin CookRunning BackFlorida State
251Denver BroncosDeMarcus WalkerDefensive EndFlorida State
261Green Bay PackersJosh JonesSafetyNC State
391Los Angeles RamsJohn JohnsonSafetyBoston College
397Miami DolphinsCordrea TankersleyCornerbackClemson
3102Seattle SeahawksNazair JonesDefensive tackleNorth Carolina
3105Pittsburgh SteelersJames ConnerRunning BackPittsburgh
4113Los Angeles ChargersRayshawn JenkinsSafetyMiami
4115Arizona CardinalsDorian JohnsonGuardPittsburgh
4118Philadelphia EaglesMack HollinsWide ReceiverNorth Carolina
4133Dallas CowboysRyan SwitzerWide ReceiverNorth Carolina
4140New York GiantsWayne GallmanRunning BackClemson
4142Houston TexansCarlos WatkinsDefensive tackleClemson
5150New York JetsJordan LeggettTight EndClemson
5152Carolina PanthersCorn ElderCornerbackMiami
5160Cleveland BrownsRoderick JohnsonTackleFlorida State
5163Buffalo BillsMatt MilanoLinebackerBoston College
5168Oakland RaidersMarquel LeeLinebackerWake Forest
5171Buffalo BillsNathan PetermanQuarterbackPittsburgh
5179Arizona CardinalsT. J. LoganRunning backNorth Carolina
5180Minnesota VikingsDanny IsidoraGuardMiami
6186Baltimore RavensChuck ClarkSafetyVirginia Tech
6196New Orleans SaintsAl-Quadin MuhammadDefensive endMiami
6200New York GiantsAdam BisnowatyTacklePittsburgh
6201Minnesota VikingsBucky HodgesTight endVirginia Tech
6206Los Angeles RamsSam RogersFullbackVirginia Tech
6213Pittsburgh SteelersColin HolbaLong snapperLouisville
6215Detroit LionsBrad KaayaQuarterbackMiami
6216Dallas CowboysMarquez WhiteCornerbackFlorida State
7219Minnesota VikingsStacy ColeyWide receiverMiami
7229San Francisco 49ersAdrian ColbertCornerbackMiami
7230Washington RedskinsJosh Harvey-ClemonsSafetyLouisville
7233Carolina PanthersHarrison ButkerKickerGeorgia Tech
7234Los Angeles RamsEjuan PriceLinebackerPittsburgh
7237Miami DolphinsIsaiah FordWide receiverVirginia Tech
7240Jacksonville JaguarsMarquez WilliamsFullbackMiami
7242Oakland RaidersElijah HoodRunning backNorth Carolina
7245Minnesota VikingsJack TochoCornerbackNC State
7252Cleveland BrownsMatthew DayesRunning backNC State