The coaches are new, and so will be many of the stars. The ACC will be without the defending Heisman Trophy winner (Florida State's Chris Weinke, who graduated), the most explosive wideout in the country (N.C. State's Koren Robinson, gone to the NFL as a sophomore) and a league-high four coaches.
Only Virginia's George Welsh left of his own accord. The other three -- North Carolina's Carl Torbush, Maryland's Ron Vanderlinden and Wake Forest's Jim Caldwell -- were fired after being unable to break past the ACC's rank-and-file (or, in Caldwell's case, being unable to get his team into the rank-and-file).
The ACC also lost its marquee tailback (Maryland's LaMont Jordan) and defender (Lombardi winner Jamal Reynolds of FSU).
But talent returns. Clemson's Woodrow Dantzler and Georgia Tech's George Godsey are Heisman hopefuls. North Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers may be better than Seymour. N.C. State linebacker Levar Fisher led the country in tackles.
Oh, and there could be drama, finally. Florida State might not win the conference this season. More on that in a minute.
Game of the Year: Even if Georgia Tech at Florida State on Sept. 15 decides the ACC championship, what about the Seminoles' Nov. 3 trip to Clemson? You think Tigers coach Tommy Bowden wants to spank his dad, but good, for the 54-7 lashing Florida State gave Clemson last season?
Offensive Player of Year: Dantzler's run at the Heisman Trophy ended last season with an injury against North Carolina. He ought to rev it up again this season, and make another run at becoming the first player to have 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing (he finished with 1,691 and 947).
Defensive Player of Year: Tough call, though we think it'll stay in the Triangle. We're going with UNC's Peppers (15 sacks, 24 tackles for loss last season) over N.C. State's Fisher (national-best 14.8 tackles per game). While Fisher truly is a man, Peppers might not be mortal.
Gregg Doyel covers the ACC for the Charlotte Observer.
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