ACC football: buy or sell?

Entering the 2024 season, the Atlantic Coast Conference expanded to 17 teams with the addition of California University, Southern Methodist University and Stanford, removing divisions as well.

Both Clemson and Florida State University sued the league over the ACC’s grant of rights. The ACC has in turn also sued Clemson and FSU.

The ACC has asked the North Carolina Supreme Court to hasten its litigation against FSU and Clemson.

In the inaugural season of the 12-team playoff expansion, these 17 teams are looking to make their mark on the revamped league and playoff experience.

Buy

Bill O’Brien’s Boston College Offense

The Eagles are soaring high. Off a Monday night 28-13 upset over FSU, Bill O’Brien, in his first season as BC’s head coach, emphasized post-game how it’s just one win. As of now, the Eagles play two more ranked opponents this season, No. 9 Missouri and No. 22 Louisville.

Running back Treshaun Wallace led the offensive success, rushing for 77 yards and a 13-yard touchdown reception.

Thomas Castellanos, quarterback, completed 10 of 16 passes with two touchdowns.

Automatic playoff builds are given to the five highest-ranked conference champions. The next seven high-ranked teams also received a playoff spot.

Just one game in, it’s the Eagles' bid to lose.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The Yellow Jackets stung early, upsetting FSU in Dublin, Ireland in Week 0, 24-21. On a last-second field goal, Aidan Birr kicked it through the uprights to win the game.

They beat Georgia State in Week 1, 35-12. Through two games, they’ve recorded 420 yards of offense from quarterback Haynes King.

Their 2023 campaign ended 7-6. With an impressive 2-0 start, GT is sending a message to the ACC.

Looking ahead, they end their season with a tough slate of five games: No. 5 Notre Dame, at Virginia Tech, No. 12 University of Miami, No. 24 NC State and at No. 1 Georgia.

The Yellow Jackets look to continue stinging their opponents in the front half of the schedule.

Ultimately, their last five games will be the true test if they’re 2024 playoff contenders.

Sell

FSU Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei

A two-time transfer portal QB, Uiagalelei struggled in the first two games of the 2024 season. Upset by both GT and BC, FSU fell out of the Week 2 AP Top 25. He left Oregon State after the 2023 season following the disbandment of the PAC-12 and played at Clemson during the 2020-22 season.

In his first two games under center for the Seminoles, Uiagalelei has thrown for one touchdown with a 58% completion rate (40/69).

FSU has scored a combined 38 points in its first two games. The offensive woes can’t fully be put on Uiagalelei as in the game against Boston College on Monday night, on 16 carries they recorded just 21 yards of offense.

Uiagalelei must turn the season around quickly if the Seminoles want to make a run at the 2024 playoffs and if he wants to join an NFL franchise next season.

Julia Henry is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism and labor and human resources, to contact her please email jbh6443@psu.edu.