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ACC 2027 verbal commit team ranking so far

grover

grover

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We're obviously head and shoulders above the 16 dwarves. But there's some pretty clear trends worth noting.

  • Va Tech is third behind Clemson. In Franklin's mulligan class, they were 5th. Pre-Franklin, they were 9th in 2025, 10th in 2024 and 6th in 2023. Franklin had them at 4th in the transfer portal vs. 9th in 2025 and14th in 2024.
  • Cal and Louisville round out the Top 5. They were also 2 and 3, respectively, in the 2026 transfer portal.
  • Clemson, as noted, is at #2. They've been 4th, 4th and 2nd the previous 3 recruiting cycles. They finally started using the portal with 11 transfers in, but were still only 12th in the ACC. Before that they maybe took a kid or three each season from the portal. They're still relevant and trying to stay that way. But unless their evals are home runs, they're just one in that second-tier pack
  • FSU is 11th, UNC is 14th and GT is dead last. The meteoric decline of Norvell and Belichick and the end of the Haynes King era have buried those three programs.
  • SMU plays well but consistently recruits mid-ly. HS: 16th (second to last) in 2027, 6th in 2026 and 2025, dead last in 2024 (first year in ACC). For portal, they were 6th in 2026, 8th in 2025 and 7th in 2024.

On paper, our biggest competitors for the next couple of years look to be Clemson, Louisville, perhaps not so surprisingly Va Tech, and surprisingly Cal.

Maybe Lashlee fixes SMU now that they're going to start receiving their ACC rev share. But they're in that third tier with Pitt, NC State and Cuse talent-wise from a ranking perspective.

FSU and UNC will be lucky to be .500 in the conference this year, after which the bottom drops out without a major change in talent acquisition.
 
grover said:
We're obviously head and shoulders above the 16 dwarves. But there's some pretty clear trends worth noting.

  • Va Tech is third behind Clemson. In Franklin's mulligan class, they were 5th. Pre-Franklin, they were 9th in 2025, 10th in 2024 and 6th in 2023. Franklin had them at 4th in the transfer portal vs. 9th in 2025 and14th in 2024.
  • Cal and Louisville round out the Top 5. They were also 2 and 3, respectively, in the 2026 transfer portal.
  • Clemson, as noted, is at #2. They've been 4th, 4th and 2nd the previous 3 recruiting cycles. They finally started using the portal with 11 transfers in, but were still only 12th in the ACC. Before that they maybe took a kid or three each season from the portal. They're still relevant and trying to stay that way. But unless their evals are home runs, they're just one in that second-tier pack
  • FSU is 11th, UNC is 14th and GT is dead last. The meteoric decline of Norvell and Belichick and the end of the Haynes King era have buried those three programs.
  • SMU plays well but consistently recruits mid-ly. HS: 16th (second to last) in 2027, 6th in 2026 and 2025, dead last in 2024 (first year in ACC). For portal, they were 6th in 2026, 8th in 2025 and 7th in 2024.

On paper, our biggest competitors for the next couple of years look to be Clemson, Louisville, perhaps not so surprisingly Va Tech, and surprisingly Cal.

Maybe Lashlee fixes SMU now that they're going to start receiving their ACC rev share. But they're in that third tier with Pitt, NC State and Cuse talent-wise from a ranking perspective.

FSU and UNC will be lucky to be .500 in the conference this year, after which the bottom drops out without a major change in talent acquisition.
Click to expand...
Lashlee never came across as a recruiter to me. I could definitely be wrong here, but he seems to be more of a "system" guy than a talent acquisition guy.
 
Good thread to have. Clemson just got a few guys today.

Lashalee recruits quarterbacks and other offensive guys well but recruiting has never been his speed. Still think SMU will get the talent they need via transfers. He’s a bit like OK State’s new HC (Cam Ward’s HC) where they know how important quarterback is and then they move slow with the rest of it.

Garrin Justice has never been a good recruiter but we thank him for Matthew McCoy; he can definitely evaluate. Rob Likens is another guy who can evaluate well. The Miami connections never end with that staff; they have miami legacy but ND grad Maurice crum jr as their co-dc, and deriq king coaching quarterbacks.
 
We know alberto is a much better athlete and his passing stats at Columbus were more prolific than those of his brother. Went 19 for 21; 4 TDs and 1 INT against a Rueben Bain, Ezekiel Marcelin, and Stanquon Clark led Central defense. Only loss of that year 42-35; went 26-2 as a starter.

Also one of the youngest athletes in his class. Wouldn’t sleep on GT even though they shook up their staff. He won states twice which Fernando didn’t do once (as the starting qb). GT’s oline will be stout.

I really wanna see it happen because the guy kinda ****es me off, but there’s some evidence to suggest Cignetti let the better quarterback portal out while favoring experience in Josh Hoover. Theyll still be really good but Mendoza’s dual threat nature makes him **** hard to stop.

Yeah but idk wtf is going on with their recruiting at this point lol.
 
ND obv isn’t ACC but half of their schedule has been in 2025 & 2026; up from the usual 5. Looks like that’s here to stay
 
grover said:
We're obviously head and shoulders above the 16 dwarves. But there's some pretty clear trends worth noting.

  • Va Tech is third behind Clemson. In Franklin's mulligan class, they were 5th. Pre-Franklin, they were 9th in 2025, 10th in 2024 and 6th in 2023. Franklin had them at 4th in the transfer portal vs. 9th in 2025 and14th in 2024.
  • Cal and Louisville round out the Top 5. They were also 2 and 3, respectively, in the 2026 transfer portal.
  • Clemson, as noted, is at #2. They've been 4th, 4th and 2nd the previous 3 recruiting cycles. They finally started using the portal with 11 transfers in, but were still only 12th in the ACC. Before that they maybe took a kid or three each season from the portal. They're still relevant and trying to stay that way. But unless their evals are home runs, they're just one in that second-tier pack
  • FSU is 11th, UNC is 14th and GT is dead last. The meteoric decline of Norvell and Belichick and the end of the Haynes King era have buried those three programs.
  • SMU plays well but consistently recruits mid-ly. HS: 16th (second to last) in 2027, 6th in 2026 and 2025, dead last in 2024 (first year in ACC). For portal, they were 6th in 2026, 8th in 2025 and 7th in 2024.

On paper, our biggest competitors for the next couple of years look to be Clemson, Louisville, perhaps not so surprisingly Va Tech, and surprisingly Cal.

Maybe Lashlee fixes SMU now that they're going to start receiving their ACC rev share. But they're in that third tier with Pitt, NC State and Cuse talent-wise from a ranking perspective.

FSU and UNC will be lucky to be .500 in the conference this year, after which the bottom drops out without a major change in talent acquisition.
Click to expand...
I figure Lashlee/ SMU just prefer strategically to prioritize portal. Almost similar to Lane Kiffin except Lashlee is the non scumbag version.
 
Top 5 in the ACC this year will end up being:
- Miami
- VT
- Louisville
- Clemson
- Cal

Next 5
- SMU
- GT
- Pitt
- Duke
- NC State

Last 5
- UVA
- UNC
- Syracuse
- Wake Forest
- FSU

Bottom 2
- Stanford
- Boston college


Would really love for the ACC to get a few good non conf wins this year, not that I’m PRO ACC but I hate seeing 4 Big10 & 4 SEC teams in the playoffs

Louisville Vs Olemiss/@Kentucky
GT Vs Tennessee/@UGA/Vs Colorado o
Clemson @ LSU/Vs SC
Miami @ Notre Dame
Boston college @ Michigan state
FSU @ Alabama/Vs UF
SMU @ Notre dame
Cal vs UCLA
Duke @ Illinois
UVA VS WVU
Pitt Vs UCF
UNC Vs* TCU
Wake Forest @ Purdue
VT @ Maryland

8 Games against the SEC
5 games against the Big10
4 games against the Big12
2 against ND (I know they play more teams than 2 from the ACC but I think Miami/SMU have the best chance of beating ND)

*UNC/Syracuse & BC also play Notre dame

I know most of yall are in the mindset of “**** the ACC outside of Miami” and I feel like that too for all intensive purposes BUT at the same time we NEED the ACC to be as successful in the non conference and not just Miami. If its either the ACC or the other conferences get those wins I’m picking the ACC, it’ll only help with our SOS.

My Prediction will be that we matchup with either VT or SMU for the ACC championship, both teams are on the upswing. Same with Cal/Louisville & if Clemson/GT gets with the times I think those 6 will be Miamis biggest challengers for the next several seasons. I could I see any of those 6 teams investing ALOT more next year if they exceed expectations for this upcoming season. Particularly in the portal.

Would also be nice just to have some high ranked ACC matchups, I’d rather blow out a top 25 ACC opponent then an Unranked one lol
 
StevoBevo said:
Top 5 in the ACC this year will end up being:
- Miami
- VT
- Louisville
- Clemson
- Cal

Next 5
- SMU
- GT
- Pitt
- Duke
- NC State

Last 5
- UVA
- UNC
- Syracuse
- Wake Forest
- FSU

Bottom 2
- Stanford
- Boston college


Would really love for the ACC to get a few good non conf wins this year, not that I’m PRO ACC but I hate seeing 4 Big10 & 4 SEC teams in the playoffs

Louisville Vs Olemiss/@Kentucky
GT Vs Tennessee/@UGA/Vs Colorado o
Clemson @ LSU/Vs SC
Miami @ Notre Dame
Boston college @ Michigan state
FSU @ Alabama/Vs UF
SMU @ Notre dame
Cal vs UCLA
Duke @ Illinois
UVA VS WVU
Pitt Vs UCF
UNC Vs* TCU
Wake Forest @ Purdue
VT @ Maryland

8 Games against the SEC
5 games against the Big10
4 games against the Big12
2 against ND (I know they play more teams than 2 from the ACC but I think Miami/SMU have the best chance of beating ND)

*UNC/Syracuse & BC also play Notre dame

I know most of yall are in the mindset of “**** the ACC outside of Miami” and I feel like that too for all intensive purposes BUT at the same time we NEED the ACC to be as successful in the non conference and not just Miami. If its either the ACC or the other conferences get those wins I’m picking the ACC, it’ll only help with our SOS.

My Prediction will be that we matchup with either VT or SMU for the ACC championship, both teams are on the upswing. Same with Cal/Louisville & if Clemson/GT gets with the times I think those 6 will be Miamis biggest challengers for the next several seasons. I could I see any of those 6 teams investing ALOT more next year if they exceed expectations for this upcoming season. Particularly in the portal.

Would also be nice just to have some high ranked ACC matchups, I’d rather blow out a top 25 ACC opponent then an Unranked one lol
Click to expand...
That BC vs. Michigan State game
space office GIF
 
Not a dig at Mario AT ALL, it's more about how sad sacked the acc league office is but watch it take ANOTHER 20 years to win the sappy acc.
 
StevoBevo said:
Top 5 in the ACC this year will end up being:
- Miami
- VT
- Louisville
- Clemson
- Cal

Next 5
- SMU
- GT
- Pitt
- Duke
- NC State

Last 5
- UVA
- UNC
- Syracuse
- Wake Forest
- FSU

Bottom 2
- Stanford
- Boston college


Would really love for the ACC to get a few good non conf wins this year, not that I’m PRO ACC but I hate seeing 4 Big10 & 4 SEC teams in the playoffs

Louisville Vs Olemiss/@Kentucky
GT Vs Tennessee/@UGA/Vs Colorado o
Clemson @ LSU/Vs SC
Miami @ Notre Dame
Boston college @ Michigan state
FSU @ Alabama/Vs UF
SMU @ Notre dame
Cal vs UCLA
Duke @ Illinois
UVA VS WVU
Pitt Vs UCF
UNC Vs* TCU
Wake Forest @ Purdue
VT @ Maryland

8 Games against the SEC
5 games against the Big10
4 games against the Big12
2 against ND (I know they play more teams than 2 from the ACC but I think Miami/SMU have the best chance of beating ND)

*UNC/Syracuse & BC also play Notre dame

I know most of yall are in the mindset of “**** the ACC outside of Miami” and I feel like that too for all intensive purposes BUT at the same time we NEED the ACC to be as successful in the non conference and not just Miami. If its either the ACC or the other conferences get those wins I’m picking the ACC, it’ll only help with our SOS.

My Prediction will be that we matchup with either VT or SMU for the ACC championship, both teams are on the upswing. Same with Cal/Louisville & if Clemson/GT gets with the times I think those 6 will be Miamis biggest challengers for the next several seasons. I could I see any of those 6 teams investing ALOT more next year if they exceed expectations for this upcoming season. Particularly in the portal.

Would also be nice just to have some high ranked ACC matchups, I’d rather blow out a top 25 ACC opponent then an Unranked one lol
Click to expand...

Take Va TECH OUT OF THE TOP 5 PLEASE.

Their qb room isnt any good. Other than Grunkermeyer no one has even thrown a pass. Not sure he isnt even all that good...if he gets hurt...woosh.

I think their defense will be good though
 
What’s crazy is the rest of the ACC top 5 after Miami has 73 commits between the 4 of them.

None of them have a 5*.

Combined they have *three* players whose 4* ranking is closer to 5* than it is to 3*.
Which is really where the metrics show a noticeable jump in player hit rate that shows up on the field.

Miami has four 5* guys.
And three guys whose 4* ranking is closer to 5* than 3*.

Meaning if you took a “best of” from the 4 next best recruiting classes in the ACC, it would still be significantly worse than Miami’s class.

Which means you could take a best of from the entire ACC, and it would be a significantly worse class than Miami’s.

We aren’t even playing the same sport as the rest of the ACC right now.
 
gogeta4 said:
Take Va TECH OUT OF THE TOP 5 PLEASE.

Their qb room isnt any good. Other than Grunkermeyer no one has even thrown a pass. Not sure he isnt even all that good...if he gets hurt...woosh.

I think their defense will be good though
Click to expand...
I think they’ll be better than anticipated, they have the schedule to work on the kinks in the first 4 weeks. I also think they’re defense will gives teams fits, but I don’t think they can win in shootouts.

Vs VMI
Vs Old Dominion
@ Maryland
@ BC
Definitely can go 4-0 here, most likely will be top 25 if they do.

They’ll have a tougher stretch afterwards
Vs Pitt
@Cal
Vs GT
@ Clemson
@ SMU
Vs Stanford
@ Miami
Vs UVA

My guess would be they go 2/4 on the road and 3/4 at home. 9-3 (6-3) would be a great start for them. If FSU is gonna be in the toilet for the foreseeable future I wouldn’t mind seeing VT rise up, and I think they will.
 
Andrew Ivins talked to Gaby and Lake about trends in recruiting and he said a ton of teams are doing what miami / USC / etc just did which is a larger ‘26 class then pairing that with a more selective ‘27 HS class & hitting portal to fill holes.

UNC and Nebraska are two others who are trying to pull this off.

Thought it was interesting that he pointed out Wake Forest’s model is about volume shooting on their HS classes each year rather than relying on the portal; trying to get high 20s or low 30s HS kids knowing the attrition will arrive whilst portal players will be outta their budget
 
Ivins said Ohio state and miami did the best job last cycle with senior season evaluations and adjusting their boards based on new information

He doesn’t understand why more programs with so much resources neglect such a large part of prospects’ development
 
cookies said:
We know alberto is a much better athlete and his passing stats at Columbus were more prolific than those of his brother. Went 19 for 21; 4 TDs and 1 INT against a Rueben Bain, Ezekiel Marcelin, and Stanquon Clark led Central defense. Only loss of that year 42-35; went 26-2 as a starter.

Also one of the youngest athletes in his class. Wouldn’t sleep on GT even though they shook up their staff. He won states twice which Fernando didn’t do once (as the starting qb). GT’s oline will be stout.

I really wanna see it happen because the guy kinda ****es me off, but there’s some evidence to suggest Cignetti let the better quarterback portal out while favoring experience in Josh Hoover. Theyll still be really good but Mendoza’s dual threat nature makes him **** hard to stop.

Yeah but idk wtf is going on with their recruiting at this point lol.
Click to expand...
Their class is much better rn. They also have two Florida DTs in Maleek lee and Jamar Thompson.
 
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