College football season is a week away now and we can all sigh in relief. We’ve survived another long, hard off season. And what an off season it was. Drama filled the news from UNC to Ohio State to West Virginia, Oregon, and the mother of them all, the ACC’s very own Miami Hurricanes. What will become of all those NCAA investigations we will find out…in about five years if past slow enforcement processes are any indication.

Let’s dive into this ACC preview. What is there to say about the ACC? They’ve been a struggling conference since they decided to expand, if not earlier. Hoping to become more SEC –like with the addition of Boston College and Miami, instead they’ve floundered, perennially coming in fifth to the SEC, Big 12, Pac-12 and Big Ten.  In the past seven years of BCS bowl games, only one ACC team has emerged victorious from their bowl game and that was Virginia Tech.

The ACC in 2011 is rife with brand new men (or boys, as the case may be) under center. Six starting quarterbacks either graduated or left for the NFL including conference stand outs Christian Ponder from Florida State and Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor, who was 2010’s ACC Player of the year.

This year, Florida State and Virginia Tech look to be the contenders, but never rule out the whole grouping of teams in the middle of the conference as they could be better (or worse) than anticipated or play spoiler to the Seminoles and Hokies.

Let’s take a look at the Atlantic Division from worst to first:

Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons did not have the best 2010 season, to say the least.  A Nine game losing streak wasn’t even the worst of it. Within that awful stretch of their season, five of those losses came by 31 or more points.  2011 sees sophomore QB Tanner Price running the shotgun alongside RB Josh Harris.  Harris got the starting nod largely based on his 241 yards of rushing versus Virginia Tech last season. Wake has an advantage in a pair of wide receivers who are the fastest in the ACC. Chris Givens and Michael Campanaro are speedy but they are not going to get the ball if the shoddy offensive line doesn’t give Tanner Price some protection.

On Defense, senior safeties Cyhl Quarles and Josh Bush anchor the backfield while OLBs Joey Ehrmann and Kyle Wilber are the veteran leaders. The Demon Deacons secondary has eight players who have started at either safety or cornerback.

Maryland

With coaching changes and a brand new defensive scheme, the Maryland Terrapins will have a whole new look this year. Unfortunately, that is probably not going to help much as, with any big changes in coaching there will be an adjustment period.  New head coach Randy Edsall also brought in new offensive and defensive coordinators and reworked the Terrapin defense.  By the way, doesn’t Terrapin – a TURTLE – seem like an odd name for an athletic team whose success is largely based on how speedy they are? Hmmm.  Anyway,  QB Danny O’Brien returns for his sophomore season and continues to develop promisingly.  He’s got a weapon in RB Dave Meggett who racked up 700 yards last year despite never starting a game.

Defensively, Maryland’s duo of senior CBs Trenton Hughes and Cameron Chism return – which is good as the secondary needs help.  LB Kenny Tate was moved from safety to take advantage of his size and speed.

Maryland has the talent to repeat their second place finish in the Atlantic Division, but the new coaching staff and defense could be a stumbling block in repeating 2010s successful season for the Terrapins.  They get Miami, West Virginia and Clemson at home and don’t have to face Florida State until midway through the season, giving the team a chance to gel with the new coaches and defensive scheme.

Clemson

The best news for Clemson’s offense is that RB Andre Ellington, who spent much of last season injured, is healthy and ready to play. Eight starters return to the Tigers’ offense which is run by former Tulsa OC Chad Morris.   Sophomore QB Tajh Boyd has been impressive in summer practices and scrimmages. In fact, in Clemson’s two scrimmages this summer, Boyd has completed 20 of 27 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers.

Defensively, Clemson is depleted.  Star DL Da’Quan Bowers is gone, as is Jarvis Jenkins and three of the four on the secondary.  Top LB recruits Tony Steward and Stephone Anthony should step in and make a difference, but there is no disputing that Clemson’s D last depth, a dangerous place to be in.

Boston College

Boston College has been floundering for a number of seasons now, and in fact, seem to be getting worse with each passing season. They’ve never quite found their footing since Matt Ryan left for the NFL in 2007. This year, the Eagles have a new offensive coordinator in Kevin Rogers – who should be able to make real strides with QB Chase Rettig.  The second year QB has the arm and the speed to be a dual threat QB out of the pocket and Rogers guidance should get this offense humming along.

Defensively, the Eagles can shore up their struggling offense with the D, especially All-American MLB Luke Kuechly, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, CB Donnie Fletcher and DT Kaleb Ramsey.  The BC defense finished first in the ACC in rush defense.  The defense should be able to keep games within reach as the offense gels.

North Carolina State

The Wolfpack is breaking in a new QB in Mike Glennon (former QB Russell Wilson is now at Wisconsin), and head coach Tom O’Brien has made comparisons to Matt Ryan (who he coached at BC).  Glennon’s style of play and his efficiency as a pocket passer should work well with TE George Bryan and RB Mustafa Green – who is currently injured and no prognosis has been issued by North Carolina State as of yet.  NC State lost three of their four receivers from last year’s squad so the race for wideout will be an interesting one to watch.

Defensively, the 2010 Wolfpack held opponents to 114.3 rushing yards per game and the returning secondary is the most experience in the ACC with three starters coming back including lead tackler Earl Wolff. The run defense gets a boost as well with the return of Terrell Manning and Audie Cole.  Defensive End Quinton Couples returns as well and should have a breakout season, setting up his NFL draft pretty well.

Florida State

As Jimbo Fisher heads into his second season as head coach of the Seminoles, he has to be breathing a sigh of relief. With a 10 win season and bowl victory, his first year at the helm of Florida State can be declared a success by any measure.  Florida State returns a whopping 18 starters for 2011, making them the hands on favorite to win the ACC title and head to a BCS Bowl – perhaps even the championship.  Junior QB E.J. Manuel takes over for Christian Ponder, and the Seminole fanbase has to be wondering if he’s improved. He went 4-2 last season when he filled in for the injured Ponder.  The good news on the Seminole offense is that their top three running backs – Chris Thompson, Ty Jones and Jermaine Thomas – have returned for 2011. This, along with the Seminole’s strength at the wide receiver position should help Manuel transition into his starting role with little trouble. He will have a lot of weapons to get the ball to.

Defensively, the Seminoles have one of the top Defensive Ends in the nation in Brandon Jenkins. In 2010, he has 13.5 sacks on a defense that had the most in the entire country with 48. The good news is that while the FSU secondary has had some issues in the past,  returning CBs Greg Reid and Xavier Rhodes will shore up this squad and elevate it to the top of the ACC.

The Seminoles have a huge test early in the season when the Oklahoma Sooners come to Tallahassee on September 17^th. With a win there as well as against Florida on November 26^th, it is not a stretch to think this Florida State team could be undefeated and head to the BCS Championship.