The ACC released their 2019 preseason poll, voted on by 173 media members credentialed for last week’s 2019 ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, North Carolina.
And while Clemson deservedly remained the conference favorite, no other Carolina school was picked to finish higher than fourth in their division.
The Tigers, who posted a perfect 15-0 record last season en route to earning their second College Football Playoff championship in three years, were chosen to repeat as Atlantic Division winners. Virginia was picked to finish atop the Coastal Division – following an eight-win 2018 season that culminated with a 28-0 shutout of South Carolina in the Belk Bowl.
Clemson was named the likely 2019 ACC champion on 170 ballots. Syracuse picked up two votes, and Virginia received one.
In the Atlantic Division preseason voting, Clemson led the way with 171 first-place votes and 1,209 total points. Syracuse received the other two first-place votes while placing second with 913 points.
Florida State (753 points) was tabbed for a third-place Atlantic Division finish, followed by NC State (666), Boston College (588), Wake Forest (462) and Louisville (253).
The balloting proved much tighter in the Coastal Division, where Virginia received 82 first-place votes and amassed 1,003 total points. The Cavaliers placed just 11 points ahead of Miami (55 first-place votes, 992 points), while Virginia Tech finished third in the voting with 20 first-place votes and 827 points. This is the first time since the ACC began Divisional play in 2005 that Virginia has been favored in the Coastal.
All seven Coastal Division teams received at least one first-place vote. Pitt (eight first-place votes, 691) was fourth in the overall voting, followed by Duke (six first-place votes, 566). North Carolina (463) and Georgia Tech (302) each received one first-place vote.
ACC Championship Votes1. Clemson – 1702. Syracuse – 23. Virginia – 1
Atlantic Division (First place votes in parenthesis) 1. Clemson (171) – 1,2092. Syracuse (2) – 9133. Florida State – 7534. NC State – 6665. Boston College – 5886. Wake Forest – 4627. Louisville – 253
Coastal Division(First place votes in parenthesis) 1. Virginia (82) – 1,0032. Miami (55) – 9923. Virginia Tech (20) – 8274. Pitt (8) – 6915. Duke (6) –5666. North Carolina (1) – 4637. Georgia Tech (1) – 302