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Louisville football: ACC power rankings week 1

By Presley Meyer

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers holds the ACC Championship trophy after their 42-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers holds the ACC Championship trophy after their 42-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers runs with the ball during the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the LSU Tigers at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The LSU Tigers topped the Clemson Tigers, 42-25. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers runs with the ball during the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the LSU Tigers at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The LSU Tigers topped the Clemson Tigers, 42-25. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

3. North Carolina

Since Mack Brown came out of retirement, North Carolina has joined Clemson at the forefront of the conversation in the conference, and with good reason.

The Tar Heels finished the 2019 season a pedestrian 7-6, but keep in mind that it made its first bowl game appearance four years, and its losses, including to Clemson, were all close.

The stat that you will hear everyone throwing out as the season approaches is that the Tar Heels lost six games by a combined 26 points in 2019.

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Additionally, UNC finished the season with two blow-out wins, then hit the recruiting trail to haul in a top 20 recruiting class.

UNC has all of the momenta on its side, including returning All-American quarterback Sam Howell along with nine other starters.

North Carolina should be right in the conversation for the ACC title when all is said and done.

2. Notre Dame

How crazy has 2020 been? Notre Dame finally joining a conference crazy.

This is said in jest, of course, as the Irish are only joining the ACC for one season. However, the Fighting Irish should sit around the top 10 teams in the country all season long.

In his eleventh season in South Bend, Brian Kelly returns quarterback Ian Book and a solid core of offensive linemen. Though Notre Dame loses its top three pass-catchers, the continuity on the offensive line and behind center should be enough to remain in a groove on that side of the ball.

On defense, the Irish face some question marks. However, given its consistent depth that has been built over the last five years, Notre Dame figures to be in the college football playoff conversation.

1. Clemson

Did you expect anything else?

Every position on the ACC power rankings is up for grabs, except the top spot. That belongs to the top dog in the ACC, and one of the top two brands currently in college football.

Dabo Sweeney brings in the top recruiting class in the country for the second straight year, and they will join the nation’s elite at every position.

Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne headline a high-powered offense that should be nearly unstoppable in 2020. Amari Rodgers is looking to take over as the next stud wide receiver by making his game more consistent across the board.

On defense, Xaver Thomas headlines a squad that should be nothing short of a top ten defense in the country.

Next. Ranking the top 50 Louisville football players of all-time. dark

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