From Bill Belichick to Miller Moss: 10 moves that shaped the ACC football offseason
The Atlantic Coast Conference is finally at peace.
The league and two of its most prominent members, Clemson and Florida State, have finally resolved their legal battles. Barring any surprising developments, the conference will look the same until the next major wave of media rights deals begins (around 2030).
Advertisement
That's comforting news for ACC fans, who saw two teams from the league (Clemson and SMU) earn a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024. How many ACC teams will make the next one? That's anyone's guess.
Here's a look at 10 offseason moves that could help determine what happens this fall.
Dabo Swinney was the most decorated coach in the ACC until North Carolina hired the six-time Super Bowl winner to replace Mack Brown, who was let go after a 6-7 season.
Although most of the attention Belichick has received early on at UNC has revolved around his 24-year-old girlfriend, the Tar Heels have been busy flipping the roster with close to 40 transfer additions and more than 50 departures. It will be fascinating to see what Belichick and his staff can do with a roster that lacks top-end talent. UNC's over/under for wins is 7.5 according to BetMGM.
The Tigers made the College Football Playoff in 2024, but changes still needed to be made. They gave up 292 yards rushing in the CFP loss to Texas and, for the season, ranked 16th in the ACC in rushing defense (160.6 ypg). Swinney fired defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin in January and hired Allen away from Penn State a week later.
Clemson DC Tom Allen gets choked up talking about the sacrifices his wife and kids had to make as he pursued his coaching career. 'We're really close.' Says pulling his kids out of school was taxing on everyone. 'One time my daughter just wouldn't get out of the car' pic.twitter.com/J0wu3W7YED
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) January 15, 2025
Allen said he left State College in part to be closer to his two daughters in the Carolinas, but the $400,000 salary bump surely didn't hurt.
Penn State ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense in 2024. Allen has plenty of quality talent to work with at Clemson, including three returning starters in the secondary, two of the team's top three leading tacklers at linebacker and three players on the defensive line who started at least 10 games last season.
Advertisement
It's been another good offseason for Mario Cristobal. The Hurricanes landed their replacement for Cam Ward at quarterback in Carson Beck from Georgia. They also upgraded the secondary, most notably with the arrival of cornerback Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin) and safety Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State). These additions will aid new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman (Minnesota) in his quest to get the Canes right on that side of the ball.
Malzahn made the unorthodox move of leaving a job as a Power 4 head coach to become an offensive coordinator at another P4 school in the same state, one that went 2-10 in 2024 after going 13-1 the previous season. But Malzahn, who turns 60 in October, decided he just wanted to get back to coaching offense after completing his fourth season in Orlando with a 4-8 record.
The Seminoles could use all the help they can get on offense after ranking 131st in scoring (15.3 ppg) and 132nd in yards per play (4.4) in 2024. Boston College quarterback transfer Thomas Castellanos, originally a UCF signee for Malzahn, will try to lead the turnaround. Veteran receivers Duce Robinson (USC) and Squirrel White (Tennessee) are among 23 transfers in Mike Norvell's portal class.
Maalik Murphy threw for 2,933 yards and set a school record with 26 touchdown passes, but he entered the transfer portal following the regular season. The Blue Devils pivoted to Mensah, who signed an NIL deal worth $4 million per season, according to CBS. Mensah, who ranked No. 3 in The Athletic's winter portal QB rankings, started 13 games at Tulane last season and threw for 2,723 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions.
.@EJManuel3 breaks down the impact QB Darian Mensah will have on @DukeFOOTBALL 😈🏈 pic.twitter.com/lWzWDs5RQZ
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) May 3, 2025
Duke lost the left side of its offensive line and its top two receivers to graduation and leading rusher Star Thomas (Tennessee) to the transfer portal. But coach Manny Diaz picked up a couple of former quality FCS starters in receiver Cooper Barkate (Harvard) and offensive guard Jordan Larsen (South Dakota) to fortify the roster.
Advertisement
Some people may have forgotten, but Stanford was a nationally relevant program not long ago. Luck helped start that run, quarterbacking Stanford to final rankings of No. 4 and No. 7 in 2010 and 2011, respectively, before becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft. Now, the 35-year-old is back in Palo Alto as Stanford's general manager, hoping to breathe life back into a program that has won only three games in four consecutive seasons. Luck hired his old coach with the Colts, Frank Reich, in March to serve as an interim head coach following Troy Taylor's firing.
Reich won't have to worry about NIL and roster building. Luck is handling all of that. He has his hands full. Stanford lost 27 players to the portal, including veteran edge rusher David Bailey (Texas Tech) and talented young receiver Emmett Mosley V (Texas) this spring. Stanford reeled in seven transfers who started at least eight games in 2024, but only one — offensive lineman Niki Prongos (UCLA) — played at the FBS level last season.
The Bears' ACC debut included early-season losses to Florida State, Miami, Pitt and NC State by a combined nine points. The offseason has been just as painful.
Not only did quarterback Fernando Mendoza leave for Indiana, but the Bears lost five of their top six receivers — including tight end Jack Endries (Texas) and standout freshman Nyziah Hunter (Nebraska) — and their top four running backs. Jaydn Ott's departure to Oklahoma garnered the most headlines, but Jaivian Thomas (UCLA) was actually Cal's leading rusher in 2024.
O-T-T-T-O-G-OWe've got Jaydn Ott to go!#Calgorithm #FightForCalGameday #H1M #WhyNotCal pic.twitter.com/8D68f8pnjH
— Callie Wake (@wokemobfootball) September 28, 2024
New offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, the former Auburn and Boise State head coach, will need to incorporate a bunch of post-spring arrivals into his system during preseason camp.
Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is hold onto your own players. Georgia Tech lost arguably its most explosive receiver to the portal in Eric Singleton Jr. (Auburn) and appeared to be on the verge of losing its leader in receptions in Malik Rutherford. But after two days of exploring his options, Rutherford (62 catches, 702 yards) decided to return for his senior season.
Before Rutherford decided to come back, the Yellow Jackets managed to nab one of the best available receivers in the portal in Eric Rivers, who hauled in 62 passes for 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns last season at FIU. With Haynes King back at quarterback and Jamal Haynes returning in the backfield, Georgia Tech has a chance to contend in the ACC. It navigated some rough waters and found quality replacements for key players.
Advertisement
It was only four years ago that Dave Clawson had the Demon Deacons playing for the ACC championship. Dickert, 41, is attempting to turn Wake (4-8 each of the last two seasons) around by overhauling the roster, with a heavy dose of his former players at Washington State and transfers from the FCS ranks.
Dickert has signed 35 transfers since taking over, including 18 who started at least six games last season. Among the additions are nine former Cougars, headlined by right tackle Fa'alili Fa'amoe.
Tyler Shough made the most of his one-and-done opportunity under Jeff Brohm last season, finishing 14th nationally in passing yards per game (266.3) before becoming the third quarterback taken in the 2025 NFL Draft (No. 40 by New Orleans).
Moss, a fifth-year senior, started nine games at USC last season after waiting his turn behind No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. He has half the career starts (10) Shough had when he arrived at Louisville last year. But Brohm has done a phenomenal job with veteran quarterbacks in recent years, first with Jack Plummer — a third-team All-ACC pick in 2023 — and then Shough last season.
(Photo of Miller Moss: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
39 minutes ago
- USA Today
Florida basketball to face Duke Blue Devils in 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge
Florida basketball to face Duke Blue Devils in 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge NEWS: Matchups are set for the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge, per sources. UF @ Duke UNC @ UK UVA @ Texas NC St @ Auburn Clemson @ Bama LVille @ Ark OU @ Wake SMU @ Vandy A&M @ Pitt Miss St @ GT Miami @ Ole Miss LSU @ BC VT@SC Tenn @ Cuse Mizzou @ ND UGA @ FSUhttps:// — Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 11, 2025 The Florida Gators are set to face the Duke Blue Devils in a marquee matchup during the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge, according to a report from CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein. The highly anticipated matchup between two of college basketball's premier brands will take place in Durham, North Carolina, as part of the annual conference showdown. The 2025 edition features several headline-grabbing matchups, but few are bigger than the Gators traveling to Cameron Indoor Stadium to take on Duke. This will mark Florida's first matchup against the Blue Devils since 2017, when the Orange and Blue were defeated in an 87-84 nail-biter. Some of the leading scorers from that game include Florida's Jalen Hudson (24 points) and Marvin Bagley III (30 points) from Duke's side. Florida and Duke have met 16 times dating back to their first matchup on Feb. 26, 1932, with the Gators winning just three of those contests against the powerhouse Blue Devils. The ACC/SEC Challenge has quickly become a staple of the nonconference schedule, offering fans high-stakes showdowns before conference play begins. For Florida, the road test presents an early opportunity for Todd Golden to get his players prepared for what's expected to be a grueling road to another championship run. The Gators are bringing back a strong core from last year's national championship team, including elite guard play and one of the top transfer classes in the country. Duke, meanwhile, continues to reload with top-tier recruiting talent. Other notable matchups in the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge include North Carolina at Kentucky, Clemson at Alabama, NC State at Auburn, Virginia at Texas and Louisville at Arkansas. Tip-off times and television assignments for the Florida-Duke game will be announced at a later date. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Vince Marrow's jump to Louisville football shows Kentucky moving in wrong direction
Vince Marrow's move from Kentucky to Louisville football is the surest sign that both programs are moving in opposite directions. The Cardinals are modernizing their operation by tapping Marrow in the newly created general manager position, preparing to make a push for a College Football Playoff bid. Advertisement The Wildcats were regressing from a 4-8 season with not much reason to be optimistic about a quick turnaround. And that was before the news broke this week that they were losing their most-visible, most-liked staffer who was instrumental in recruiting some of their best talent including Lynn Bowden, Wan'Dale Robinson and Benny Snell. Marrow had been with head coach Mark Stoops for his entire tenure at UK. He'd previously turned down many opportunities to leave Lexington, reportedly including overtures made from Bill Belichick as he hired his new staff at North Carolina. And he chose to leave now. For the rival school. During the June period in which both official and unofficial visits from recruits are taking place and coaches do a lot of evaluating of high school prospects. The timing is perfect for Marrow's arrival at U of L, as the House v. NCAA settlement was finalized and scholarship offers to Class of 2026 recruits who may be on an official visit can also include a financial component from the school for the first time. Advertisement (Well, a legal offer, anyway.) This column will be updated. Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at clbrown1@ follow him on X at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at to make sure you never miss one of his columns. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville, Kentucky football programs moving in opposite directions
New York Times
43 minutes ago
- New York Times
How do Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid compare all-time?: Penguins mailbag
Good morning, everyone, and thank you for the wonderful array of questions, as always. Hopefully you're enjoying the Stanley Cup Final and the U.S. Open, if you've got tickets. We'll start in that direction before moving to more Penguins-centric questions. Part 2 of this mailbag is coming soon. Away we go. Do you think it's silly to root against McDavid to win a cup to keep him a peg below Sid? —@beancantfly No, not really. I get it. If you're from Pittsburgh and/or a Penguins fan, you aren't just rooting for championships. You've had the privilege of watching some of the greatest players of all time, from Mario Lemieux to Jaromir Jagr to Sidney Crosby to Evgeni Malkin. It's completely natural to get territorial and to want your guy to be considered the best. And if you're a Sid fan and are very prideful in him being the best player of this century, then I imagine you feel a bit threatened by Connor McDavid. Deep down, you know McDavid's overall talent probably exceeds Sid's. But then again, Lemieux was twice as talented as Gretzky, and most hockey experts like to say Gretzky is the greatest player of all time. I was so, so happy when the Canadiens beat the Kings in the 1993 Stanley Cup Final. I just didn't want Gretzky to get another one. Mind you, I was 13, but still, it's fair. Advertisement While McDavid might be more talented than Sid, the fact is, Sid's accomplishments in terms of winning utterly dwarf McDavid's. I believe the five greatest players who ever lived are Lemieux, Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Crosby and McDavid. I can't imagine anyone else cracking that top five, with all due respect to Gordie Howe, Jagr, Alex Ovechkin, Rocket Richard or whomever else you want to put on this list. You can make an argument for anyone in that top five. There's no right or wrong answer. It's yet to be seen, but if McDavid wins the Cup this year, does he jump over Sid as an all-time great, or does it take more? How many Cups do you think McDavid wins before he retires? — @skiab94 Well, we're talking about public opinion now. Many people these days like to say, 'McDavid is the greatest player of all time!' And hey, maybe he is. He's remarkable. But I also think we fall into the trap of always wanting the person we're currently watching to be the greatest. There's no real joy in taking your son or daughter to a game and saying, 'Look at that, the eighth-greatest player who ever lived!' We tend to forget how great Crosby was in his prime. His prime was cut terribly short because of concussions. But I suspect that McDavid will exceed him in the opinion of many if indeed he does win the Cup. What was your favorite Stanley Cup Final series that did not involve the Penguins? — @cgibson724 Other than this one? Because this one has been insanely entertaining. I'd probably say the 2015 series between Chicago and Boston. That was great stuff with a stunning ending. Josh, how surprised were you that Dan Muse was the coaching choice? Where does it rank among surprise coaching and management hires in Penguins history? — @jlkaplan7 Oh, I was surprised, Jake. Many people in my line of work like to come across as knowing everything and refuse to act surprised as a result. But yeah, I was surprised. Advertisement I knew Muse was interviewed early on, so I guess it didn't come as a total shock. I never sensed he was a front runner and I was certainly not expecting him to be the choice. Do you think one of Rust, Rakell, or Karlsson will be moved this offseason? Kyle Dubas acknowledged he's getting tons of calls on them. — @DustinDiGenio Anything is in play with all three of them. Of the three, I think the most likely to be dealt this summer is Karlsson. My guess is all three will be with the Penguins when next season begins but at least one will be dealt before the deadline. I think Rust is the most likely to finish his contract in Pittsburgh. The Penguins could certainly receive plenty in return for him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's a lifer. They really love him. As for Rakell, he could go at some point. Interestingly, there wasn't the level of interest in him before the deadline that you would have expected. I struggle with the segment of Pens fans who are dying to just make the playoffs. We rightly criticize the Steelers for their perpetual 10-7/9-8 records while never winning playoff games. Why not strive for a return to a Cup contender like KD wants? The Penguins should always shoot for cups — @nathan_lewy Everyone has their opinion on this topic. Personally, I agree with Dubas' line of thinking. He's shooting big. He doesn't just want to be a wild-card team. I get it, and I like it. That's what I would do if I were the GM. That said, nothing is much worse than a spring without playoff hockey. Do you think that, with the new coaching staff, the Pens give Tristan Jarry and Ryan Graves 'one last chance' to get back to the level of play that won them those contracts? — @TheAndoman I don't think they have any choice. No one is going to trade for them, and the Penguins don't want to buy them out. Advertisement It will be very interesting to see how Graves plays with a new set of eyes on him. Expectations will be disturbingly low, mind you, but it can't hurt to have some new coaches working with him. For the last three seasons, the Pens have lost so many games while leading. I'm certain this was very frustrating to players and coaches. Do you believe Dubas thought Sully's methods had anything to do with this? This team had enough talent to get leads just couldn't hold them…. — @cooljerdoc I have no doubt that the Penguins' defense has been troubling to Dubas since he took over two years ago. But I don't think he ever blamed Sullivan for it. I truly believe he thinks Sullivan is a great coach. What do you think is the best path forward for the Penguins on goalie? Sit tight and hope someone develops? Ride out Jarry's contract then trade for a 1G? Draft more? — @Lemieux67 Sergei Murashov is the future. At least, that's what the Penguins are hoping for. He's probably one year away from being NHL-ready. Playing Jarry heavily this season probably makes sense. As putrid as he was for most of the last season, he actually was the Penguins' best goalie and, to his credit, was good in the season's final month. I think you play Jarry until Murashov is ready, and you hope Murashov is the guy. If he's not, worry about it at that point. A good goalie is often the last thing a hockey team needs. It's like a closer in baseball. You don't really need a great one until you're ready to win. The Penguins just aren't there yet. Is Doc Emrick as awesome in real life as he was on the call? — @LetangCult Oh yeah. One of the kindest people I've ever met. In May 2020, I showed him a Pirates face mask that my girlfriend's aunt had made. She was selling them, and he asked me if he could have one. Naturally, I mailed him one and told him not to worry about the money. Advertisement A week later, I received $30 in cash in an envelope and a handwritten note on a PNC Park letterhead. Doesn't get any better than that. He's the epitome of class. How do you go about acquiring reliable sources as a sports journalist who specifically covers a team? — @BigSaveEh There's no direct answer to this one. Sometimes, when people start to learn who you are, they come to you with information. Sometimes, people want you to write nice things about them — assistant coaches who want to be head coaches are always great for this — so they'll give you information so that, in turn, you might write nice things about them. The ol' 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine' approach. (I absolutely hate this. It makes me feel dirty.) In other cases, you just treat people well and get to know them over the years, and they'll help you out. The best thing you can do is treat people with respect. Don't quote them when it's off the record. Use common sense. Check with them before you write something. Do that, and you'll be fine. Wings: Bone-in or boneless and what flavor? — @KMarker14 Bone-in, and with conviction. Are they really wings if they aren't bone-in? And I like flats better than drumsticks. I'm so boring and tame with sauces. The Big Sexy sauce (Mark Madden's trademark) at Big Shot Bob's is sensational. I like any kind of garlic parmesan as well. Or honey mustard. Anything but Cajun-y sauces. Not my thing. Thanks for all the great questions. Another mailbag is on deck. (Photo of Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
