Bowl season is upon us. But whether your team is in a BCS game, a lesser postseason matchup or no bowl at all, you’re probably already thinking of 2011. Here’s a look at how the ACC might shake out:
Rising: Florida State. The Seminoles, 2010 Atlantic Division champions, quietly have built perhaps the best line-of-scrimmage players in the league. And freshman defensive back Xavier Rhodes has emerged as another playmaker. If new quarterback E.J. Manuel can succeed the way predecessor Christian Ponder did, the ‘Noles should be a Top 10 team.
Florida State won the Atlantic Division in 2010, and better things could happen in 2011. (AP Photo) Falling: North Carolina State. The Wolfpack blew a fantastic chance to play for the 2010 conference title. And the season-ending loss at Maryland could set the program back. All-league quarterback Russell Wilson is off to play baseball, leading a series of departures that will prevent the program from keeping pace with FSU, Maryland and Boston College. Much of the Atlantic Division is trending up; N.C. State looks ready for a dip.
Sleeper: Virginia. The Cavs lack the completeness of other top Coastal Division teams, especially rival and likely preseason Top 5 Virginia Tech. But Mike London’s team hung with far more talented teams throughout the season, and another year should turn a couple of those close losses to victories. UVa must develop a quality quarterback and improve versus the run – opponents averaged better than 20 yards per game in 2010.
Hot Seat Coach: Tom O’Brien, N.C. State. Forget winning a division or sniffing a big-ticket bowl – the Wolfpack in 2010 finally finished above .500 for the first time in O’Brien’s four seasons. The athletic director who hired him has left, and replacement Debbie Yow won’t hesitate to make a change if the program gets lapped.
Future Star: Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB, Boston College. The Eagles and Coach Frank Spaziani have produced recent all-conference picks Mark Herzlich and Luke Kuelchy. Pierre-Louis, the runner-up for ACC Freshman of the Year in 2010, will follow in their path.
Change for the Good: Florida State recruits. With Miami and Florida unstable, Coach Jimbo Fisher and the Seminoles should get their usual crop of in-state speedy athletes. Two JUCO signees – offensive lineman Jacob Fahrenkrug and defensive end Cornelius Carradine – could make FSU’s class No. 1 in the nation.
Change for the Ill: Clemson’s defensive departures. Top tackle Jarvis James and big-play safety DeAndre McDaniel are done. And star junior end Da’Quan Bowers will be a top 5 NFL Draft pick if he leaves early. The Tigers needed strength on that side of the ball in 2011 to cover for new starting quarterback Tajh Boyd.
Save the Date: Oklahoma at Florida State, Sept. 17. The Sooners rocked FSU in Norman, Okla., early in 2010, and ended up in a BCS bowl. A Florida State victory here next fall could set up a similar run.
Best Player You’ve Never Heard of: Jayron Hosley, CB, Va. Tech. The sophomore earned All-American honors this year with eight regular-season interceptions. Next year, with Prince Amukamara and (likely) Patrick Peterson off to the NFL, he’ll be the nation’s top cornerback.
Burning Questions
What will happen at North Carolina? Cam Newton’s case has overshadowed the situation in Chapel Hill, N.C., which still could lead to NCAA sanctions against Coach Butch Davis and his program. Severe scholarship reductions would erase the progress Davis has made.
How will the Al Golden era at Miami begin? Golden’s recruiting has drawn praise and helped him leap from Temple to this high-profile job. But with the best talent in the MAC the last two seasons, he failed to reach a conference title game. There’s major uncertainty in Coral Gables.
What about Mike Leach? Maryland reportedly has targeted the former Texas Tech coach to replace the soon-to-be-bought-out Ralph Friedgen. If the results with the Red Raiders are clues, the Terps will score bushels of points, lock up a regular Top 25 spot and become far more popular.
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