The spring transfer portal deadline was April 25, meaning that teams are now beginning to prepare for their fall camps that will start over the summer. The spring window was just a 10-day window during which players from all over the ACC entered their names and flipped within the conference.
The ACC saw many programs improve from the transfer portal, as teams like Miami, SMU, and North Carolina improved, while Syracuse and Stanford dropped. While we are still waiting for some key players to commit, here is a breakdown of the ACC football power rankings.
ACC football power rankings after spring portal closes: Did the Cardinals get better
Stanford will look to flip the switch as head coach Frank Reich will try to flip this program around and get it back to where it once was. Stanford saw 28 players transfer out of the program, including two 4-stars. Stanford will be facing an uphill battle this upcoming season.
Wake Forest didn't see much change this offseason, as the Demon Deacons' offseason is ranked No. 15 in the ACC. Jack Dickert will take over for Wake Forest now, and it will be a tough first year as he lost over half of his starters from last season and has not been able to bring in much from the portal so far.
The Golden Bears will look to rebuild around Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, as the Oregon transfer was ranked as a 4-star recruit and a 4-star transfer. Cal also recently added LJ Johnson Jr to improve this offense. However, the Golden Bears will still be far behind the top of the league.
North Carolina State lost three 4-stars to the transfer portal, including KC Concepcion, who would later commit to Texas A&M. The Wolfpack will most likely see a dip this year after their 6-7 season last year.
Virginia saw significant losses in the transfer portal, including their All-ACC wide receiver, Malachi Fields. The Cavaliers have added two 4-stars through the transfer portal, and 28 players total. UVA has a roster to upset a couple of teams and finish in the middle of the pack, but they are trending towards the back as of now.
Boston College will turn to Dylan Lonergan to lead this Bill O'Brien offense. The Eagles have a solid offense as their top receivers return and have added a tight end from Alabama, but the Eagles' back half of the schedule could hurt them. Boston College will have to face Clemson, Louisville, Notre Dame, and SMU in a five-week span.
The Pitt Panthers were a massive surprise early last season, but then they lost six straight to end the season, making them a big question mark entering the 2025 season. The Panthers will see their quarterback, Eli Holstein, and running back Desmond Reid return after the offense averaged 32.9 points per game. Pitt has a solid roster to slide up in the rankings throughout the offseason entering the season, but for now, they are a safe bet at the No. 11 spot.
According to On3 Sports, the Syracuse Orange have had the worst offseason in the ACC. The Orange lost their star quarterback, Kyle McCord, to the NFL and their star wide receiver, Trebor Pena, to Penn State. Syracuse was able to secure commitments from the Notre Dame transfers Steve Angeli, and Kam Pringle, but the Orange offense still has many holes to fill before fall camp.
Virginia Tech has had the fifth-best offseason according to On3 Sports, adding four 4-stars from the transfer portal and 29 total players. The Hokies have what it takes to finish in the front half of the ACC after their 6-7 2024 season, but they will need Kyron Drones to take a massive leap.
Florida State looks to bounce back from the most disappointing season in college football history. The Seminoles will be led by their transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos and head coach Mike Norvell. Florida State had the fifth-best offseason according to On3 Sports as the Seminoles were able to land two 4-star prospects.
Duke finished fourth in the ACC last season after a 9-4 record, and has the full capability to be a dangerous team in the ACC for the 2025 season. Manny Diaz will enter his second year as Duke's head coach, and after securing Darian Mensah from Tulane, the Blue Devils have a chance to spoil Clemson and other contending ACC programs' seasons.
Georgia Tech is a sleeper team in the ACC that can cause problems for some of these elite teams. The Yellow Jackets start the year off in Boulder against Deion Sanders and Colorado, and finish the year at home against Kirby Smart and Georgia. They have a tough out-of-conference but manageable ACC schedule as they get the Clemson Tigers at home.
The Yellow Jackets are a team ACC fans must watch out for, as Brent Key's offense is set to be one of the most explosive offenses in the conference.
Bill Belichick, the team's new head coach and six-time Super Bowl champion, will lead the Tar Heels. Belichick immediately impacted the Tar Heels as North Carolina secured two commitments from 4-star transfers, including one of the top cornerbacks in the nation, Thaddeus Dixon. It will be interesting to see how things work out with Belichick and the Tar Heels, but after the spring transfer portal, UNC is emerging as a contender for the ACC.
The Mustangs had one of the best offseasons in the nation, as Rhett Lashlee brought in 20 transfers, ranking their offseason No. 18 in the country, per On3 Sports. SMU will be led by quarterback Kevin Jennings and look to return to the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoffs.
The Mustangs came up just short last year, but they have a solid roster to compete once again for an ACC Title.
The Cardinals improved this offseason as Jeff Brohm and his staff added nine players in the spring transfer portal, including three tight ends and two wide receivers. Louisville's offseason moves should unlock this explosive offense and make the Cardinals one of the top teams in the ACC.
The Cards' will be led by their transfer quarterback Miller Moss and way-too-early All-American, Isaac Brown. Louisville was the only offense to score 24 points or more in every game last season, and with their returning players and additions, this offense has the potential to be one of the most dynamic offense in the ACC and the nation.
Related: Louisville football 2025 game-by-game predictions
The Hurricanes earned a commitment from Carson Beck, the top transfer portal target and former Georgia Bulldog. Miami is expected to have one of the top offensive lines in the nation, and after their massive transfer portal additions, the Canes are expected to be one of the top ACC contenders next season.
Miami had the best offseason in the ACC as the Hurricanes offseason is ranked No. 5 in the nation.
Clemson is the favorite to win the ACC and one of the top favorites to win the National Championship. Cade Klubnik returns for the Tigers and is expected to have a Heisman season and guide the Tigers back to the College Football Playoffs.