Where dos each ACC basketball team rank in the preseason?
The 2025-26 college basketball season is now less than a month away and for the North Carolina Tar Heels, they are hoping their new-look roster can provide better results.
They enter this season with just one returning starter and the hope is that they can find a way to win the Atlantic Coast Conference for the second time in three seasons. But to do so, they will have to get past another tough Duke team plus some more up-and-coming programs.
As practices are underway here in October, we wanted to release our first preseason rankings in the ACC for the upcoming season.
18. Boston College Golden Eagles
2024-25 record: 12-19
2024-25 ACC record: 4-16
Boston College is coming off a tough 2024-25 season and going into this year they will be considered one of the worst teams in the conference at least early on.
17. Cal Golden Bears
2024-25 record: 14-19
2024-25 ACC record: 6-14
In their first year in the ACC, Cal really struggled. This season might not be much better after losing key talent like Andrej Stojakovic.
16. Stanford Cardinal
2024-25 record: 21-14
2024-25 ACC record: 11-9
It wasn’t a terrible season for Stanford a year ago. They finished 11-9 and upset North Carolina on the road. But like Cal, they lose a lot of talent.
15. Florida State Seminoles
2024-25 record: 17-15
2024-25 ACC record: 8-12
A new era of Florida State basketball is underway under new head coach Luke Loucks. It will be a little bit of an uphill battle early on for the Seminoles.
For more on Florida State, please check out FSU Wire.
14. Pitt Panthers
2024-25 record: 17-15
2024-25 ACC record: 8-12
The Pitt Panthers made the 2023 NCAA Tournament but failed to return in 2024. It’s another big year for Jeff Capel’s team.
13. Miami Hurricanes
2024-25 record: 7-24
2024-25 ACC record: 3-17
Miami finished dead last last season in the ACC but they hired Jai Lucas, a former Duke assistant. He turned in a solid 2025 recruiting class and I expect them to be busy.
12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2024-25 record: 17-17
2024-25 ACC record: 10-10
A solid campaign for Georgia Tech in 2024-25 but now Damon Stoudamire needs to improve on that and take them to the next level.
11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
2024-25 record: 21-11
2024-25 ACC record: 13-7
The Demon Deacons failed to make the NCAA Tourament again last year, which was disappointing due to the talent they had. That talent is gone and now Steve Forbes has another important year upcoming.
10. Virginia Tech Hokies
2024-25 record: 13-18
2024-25 ACC record: 8-12
The Hokies crack the Top 10 in our preseason rankings but this is a team I have a lot of questions on still.
9. SMU Mustangs
2024-25 record: 24-11
2024-25 ACC record: 13-7
SMU had a solid showing last year in the ACC. They return some talent this year but it might be tougher to finish in that top six like last season.
8. Clemson Tigers
2024-25 record: 27-7
2024-25 ACC record: 18-2
Clemson had a fantastic ACC season a year ago but were upset in the NCAA Tournament in the first round. They lose a lot of talent from that team, including Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin.
For more on Clemson, please check out Clemson Wire.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2024-25 record: 15-18
2024-25 ACC record: 8-12
I’m higher on Notre Dame than a lot of other people but they are a talented team. Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry return to lead the way.
For more on Notre Dame, please check out Fighting Irish Wire.
6. Syracuse Orange
2024-25 record: 14-19
2024-25 ACC record: 7-13
A team I really don’t have a feel on is Syracuse. They do return J.J. Starling and Donnie Freeman as well as welcome in a good recruiting class.
5. NC State Wolfpack
2024-25 record: 12-19
2024-25 ACC record: 5-15
After a bad year, the Wolfpack fired Kevin Keatts and hired Will Wade. They could be a really good team right away as Wade has started to make strides in the transfer portal and recruiting classes.
4. Virginia Cavaliers
2024-25 record: 15-17
2024-25 ACC record: 8-12
A rough year for Virginia in 2024-25, the Cavaliers could be a surprise team in the ACC this season.
3. North Carolina Tar Heels
2024-25 record: 23-14
2024-25 ACC record: 13-7
Hubert Davis revamped his roster this offseason with just one starter returning. They got better but how much better? We will find out soon enough.
2. Louisville Cardinals
2024-25 record: 27-8
2024-25 ACC record: 18-2
One of the surprise teams a year ago, Pat Kelsey continues to build in Louisville. They have another shot to contend for an ACC title this year
1. Duke Blue Devils
2024-25 record: 35-4
2024-25 ACC record: 19-1
Duke had a historic year under Jon Scheyer in the ACC. They reload once again and are the favorites early in the preseason.
For more on Duke, check out Duke Wire.