Latest news with #ACCChampionship
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida State football's Thomas Castellanos refuses to back down from Alabama trash talk
The post Florida State football's Thomas Castellanos refuses to back down from Alabama trash talk appeared first on ClutchPoints. Florida State football's Thomas Castellanos refused to back down from his Alabama trash talk. The former Boston College standout is coming into Tallahassee looking to revive this historic program, which is coming off a dismal 2024 season. Head coach Mike Norvell was steadily rebuilding the Seminoles into a contender, culminating in a 2023 regular season that saw them go undefeated and win the ACC Championship. Unfortunately, the following year was a giant step in the wrong direction. Florida State football went 2-10 overall and won just one game in its conference. It all started in Week 1 when the preseason No. 10 team in the country suffered a surprising defeat to unranked Georgia Tech in Ireland. From there, the negative momentum just continued to pile on for the Seminoles, who struggled mightily at quarterback last year. Castellanos is looking to bring stability back under center for this program, and what better way to do it than with a statement win over Alabama. The Crimson Tide are also coming off a disappointing season by their standards and entering 2025 with firm College Football Playoff-or-bust expectations. The two traditional powerhouses will meet in Doak Campbell Stadium in front of a surely raucous crowd in Week 1. Castellanos is surely fired up for this matchup and has certainly talked the talk in the buildup. The Miami native was asked during ACC Media Days if he had any regrets over his past statements about the Crimson Tide and explained why he didn't, as well as his intention behind this trash talk. 'We stand on what I said. I said what I said, and we stand on that. I don't mean no disrespect to none of those guys at Alabama or anything like that. I have confidence in my guys and the work we've been putting in and preparing, and the preparation we've been putting together. That's all that was. No disrespect to those guys, but we stand on what I said…Them boys (Florida State football) are coming off 2-10; I just wanted to instill some confidence. I'm trying to get my boys ready to go. I'm trying to make it the biggest stage.' It's safe to say Castellanos' comments on Alabama will age either very well or very poorly on August 30. That being said, regardless of what happens, the dynamic quarterback is trying to change the culture in Tallahassee, which certainly took a hit in 2024. Norvell now has a lot of pressure going into this season, and his quarterback is surely embracing some of that now. The Seminoles do not have an easy schedule, with trips to Clemson and Florida later on, as well as a home game against Miami. However, this team will still surely have the talent to get over .500 again. And anything below that record would surely be considered another failed season under Norvell, who was doing so well with Florida State football up until last season. Related: Penn State football's James Franklin shades SEC with 'easy solution' to CFP expansion Related: Top 5 wide receivers in the Big 12 for 2025 season
Newsweek
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
ACC Football Betting Odds, Picks: Reigning Champ Clemson Heavily Favored
Oddsmakers see coach Mario Cristobal's Miami Hurricanes as the biggest threat to Clemson in the ACC in 2025. Oddsmakers see coach Mario Cristobal's Miami Hurricanes as the biggest threat to Clemson in the ACC in 2025. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Fans of ACC football will not be surprised to see how oddsmakers view this conference in 2025. A year after Florida State, Clemson and Miami all entered 2024 with legit conference title hopes (at least according to oddsmakers), the odds right now indicate that it will be Clemson and then everyone else this fall. 2025 ACC Championship Game Winner Odds DK FD bet365 Clemson +105 +110 +110 Miami +380 +400 +400 Louisville +850 +800 +800 SMU +850 +900 +800 Georgia Tech +1200 +1300 +1200 Duke +2500 +2600 +2500 Florida State +2800 +3100 +2800 Virginia Tech +3500 +4800 +4000 NC State +4500 +4100 +4000 Pittsburgh +4500 +4200 +4000 North Carolina +4000 +4500 +2800 The Tigers, who have won the ACC title in nine of the last 11 seasons, are just shorter than even-money at most sportsbooks. Most books list second-favorite Miami at 4-to-1, though DK is slightly more bullish on the Canes. Louisville and reigning ACC runner-up SMU have the next-best chances to upend Clemson. Neither, however, are seen as serious threats. The Mustangs' and Cardinals' 8-to-1 or longer odds translate to around an 11 percent chance of winning the conference. Clemson, Boise Biggest League Favorites In CFB It's worth noting that across all of college football, the only conference race that oddsmakers see as less intriguing than the ACC is the Mountain West, where Boise State is minus-money (-140 at DK, -145 at FanDuel). We're not breaking ground by pointing out that the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 are much more balanced than the ACC. Still, the odds on the favorites in those conferences drive home just how shallow the ACC appears to be this year. While Clemson is +110 or shorter to win this league, SEC favorite Texas is +250 or longer across the board and reigning national champ Ohio State is a bit shorter than 2-to-1 to win the Big Ten. In the Big 12, the five "favorites" all have odds between 5-to-1 and 7-to-1. For more perspective on the perceived depth of the ACC in 2025, keep in mind that last year, five teams -- Florida State, Clemson, Miami, NC State and Lousville -- had 8-to-1 or shorter odds to win the league in late July. 2025 ACC Betting Preview: 4 Burning Questions Will Loaded Clemson Tigers Dominate ACC? Whether you're picking the ACC winner based on who has the most experience, the most proven star power or the fewest holes, it's difficult to land on an anyone other than Clemson. The Tigers have a handful of stars on both sides of the ball, including one of the Heisman favorites at QB. Signal-caller Cade Klubnik, WR Antonio Williams and OT Blake Miller could all be first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. This year's Clemson D arguably boasts even more NFL talent: D-linemen Peter Woods and T.J. Parker are likely top-10 NFL Draft picks next spring, while linebackers Wade Woodaz and Sammy Brown were named to USA TODAY Sports Network's preseason All-ACC football team. In the secondary, CB Avieon Terrell is yet another potential future first-rounder after earning All-ACC second-team honors as a sophomore last fall. Though it will spoil the answers to the other "questions" in this piece, I'll go ahead and say that no, I don't see anyone other than Clemson -- which is among five teams in the country that are currently projected to be favored in every regular season game this year -- winning the ACC in 2025. Right now, Clemson is the rare example of a preseason conference favorite that is worth a wager at +110 or shorter. Can Miami Reach (Or Win) ACC Championship Game? Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal has had no problems on the recruiting front in Coral Gables. Per 247 Sports, he landed the No. 16 recruiting class in '22, followed by top-10 classes in both '23 (No. 7) and '24 (No. 4), as well as the No. 14 class in '25. Miami's average class rank over the last four years is just outside the top 10 in the nation at 10.25, and it's even better than Clemson's average rank of 14.5 over the same period. But Cristobal's first three teams at The U have gone 5-7 (3-5 ACC) in 2022, 7-6 (3-5 ACC) in 2023 and 10-3 (6-2 ACC) in 2024. With one of the top transfer QBs in the nation, Carson Beck, among a handful of future pros on this roster, Miami has the talent -- on paper, at least -- to push Clemson. The Canes were the highest-scoring team in the country a year ago, but they will be lacking in proven experience in 2025, especially at the skill positions. In addition to losing No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward under center, top running back Damien Martinez, second-team All-ACC tight end Elijah Arroyo and first-team All-ACC wide receiver Xavier Restrepo all have to be replaced. Beck will throwing to an entirely overhauled wide receiver group. None of Miami's top six pass-catchers from a year ago are back. This team does, however, have two quality running backs returning. Mark Fletcher Jr. averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2024, while Jordan Lyle averaged 7.4 ypc, and the O-line led by projected first-round tackle Francis Mauigoa should be solid. Defensively, the Canes have room to improve after allowing 25.3 points per game last year. Miami lost LB Francisco Mauigoa and DE Tyler Baron to the 2025 NFL Draft, and 2024 first-team All-ACC DT Simeon Barrow Jr. and second-team all-conference safety Mishael Powell are battling for NFL roster spots right now. Schedule-wise, one wrinkle that is good for Clemson and Miami -- but bad for anyone hoping for a surprise ACC Championship Game matchup -- is that the Canes and Tigers will not face each other in the regular season. Could Louisville, SMU Or Anyone Else Make Noise? Remember, last year, it was SMU -- not Miami -- that ended up battling Clemson in a thrilling ACC title game. The Mustangs' outstanding debut season in this league was enough to give the ACC two teams in the 12-team College Football Playoff field. SMU should once again be high-scoring in its second season in this conference, as dynamic QB Kevin Jennings could push Klubnik for the honor of the conference's top QB. The Mustangs have a tough schedule and a lot of outgoing talent to replace, but they're as tempting as anyone besides Clemson (though that's not to say that I expect them to beat the Tigers in Death Valley on October 18). Like SMU and Miami, Louisville is projected to be explosive on offense. The Cardinals defense is a question mark, though. Louisville added a high-upside passer from the portal: former USC Trojan Miller Moss. Coach Jeff Brohm figures to have a solid offense in Year 3 of his tenure. The Cardinals averaged 30.7 points per game with Jack Plummer under center in 2023 and 36.5 ppg with another veteran transfer QB, Tyler Shough, in 2024. Still, there are too many questions on this roster for me to back Louisville right now, even though they handed Clemson its only conference loss of 2024. Oddsmakers see Georgia Tech and Duke as the next-biggest threats to Clemson and Miami. Either the Yellow Jackets or Blue Devils -- who went a combined 16-10 (10-6 ACC) a year ago -- could conceivably win enough games to reach the ACC Championship Game, especially if it doesn't all come together for Miami. That being said, neither Duke nor Georgia Tech quite strike me as a legit conference title contender this year. Will Mike Norvell's Seminoles Bounce Back? Obviously, it's hard to imagine 2023 conference champ FSU contending for an ACC title in 2025 after a catastrophic, 2-10 (1-7 ACC) 2024 campaign. But in a conference that looks wide-open after Clemson, the Noles could be a factor if former BC QB Thomas Castellanos and offensive coordinator Guz Malzahn can spark the offense. FSU went from one of the best offensive teams in the nation with Jordan Travis at QB in 2023 (34.6 points per game) to one of the worst in the country under QB D.J. Uiagalelei last year (15.4). This year's squad does feature several high-upside portal additions in WRs Duce Robinson and Squirrel White from USC and Tennessee, respectively, plus ex-Oklahoma RB Gavin Sawchuk. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
Axios
2 days ago
- Sport
- Axios
Wake Forest takes on Notre Dame in the 2027 Duke's Mayo Classic in Charlotte
Notre Dame will take on Wake Forest in the 2027 Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Uptown. Why it matters: It will be one of two Duke's Mayo Classic games at the stadium in 2027 — college football matchups that draw thousands of people to Uptown and pump millions into the local tourism economy. As one of the country's most storied football programs, Notre Dame draws national TV audiences and has a huge fan base known for traveling to games. Wake Forest, about an hour and a half from Charlotte, is a smaller but respected program with a devoted, national fan base. Between the lines: This will be the second time Charlotte has hosted two Duke's Mayo Classic games in a season. However, it won't be a double-header like it was in 2021 when Appalachian State played East Carolina and Georgia played Clemson within a matter of days in Uptown, Charlotte Sports Foundation CEO Will Pitts tells Axios (CSF oversees the Duke's Mayo Classic and several other sporting events in Charlotte). Instead, the games will be spread out. North Carolina A&T will take on North Carolina Central on Aug. 28, 2027, in the Duke's Mayo Classic. The historic rivalry is known as the Aggie-Eagle Classic. Notre Dame and Wake Forest will meet in Charlotte further into the season. The date and time are TBD. Tickets will go on sale closer to the game, but fans can register for presale details at Flashback: Notre Dame and Wake Forest had been scheduled to play each other in September 2020 at Bank of America Stadium, but the game was rescheduled because of COVID, then ultimately canceled. Notre Dame later lost to Clemson that year in the ACC Championship in Charlotte. What they're saying: "Welcoming programs like Wake Forest and Notre Dame not only energizes our local economy but also deepens the city's reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events," Pitts said in a statement.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Meet the USA TODAY Sports Network's preseason All-ACC football team for 2025
Will Clemson football add a 23rd ACC championship trophy to its collection in 2025? Our team of USA TODAY Sports Network experts who cover the league thinks so. The Tigers lead the ACC with nine selections to our preseason all-conference team. They also boast the preseason Coach and Player of the Year in Dabo Swinney and Cade Klubnik, respectively. Here's a look at the ACC's top offensive and defensive players entering 2025 — as well as our predicted order of finish: Offense Quarterback: Cade Klubnik, Clemson Running back: Isaac Brown, Louisville* Running back: Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech Wide receiver: Antonio Williams, Clemson* Wide receiver (tie): Caullin Lacy, Louisville; Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech; Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson Tight end: Justin Joly, N.C. State Offensive line: Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech* Offensive line: Francis Mauigoa, Miami Offensive line: Blake Miller, Clemson Offensive line: Pete Nygra, Louisville Offensive line: Brian Parker II, Duke Defense Defensive line: TJ Parker, Clemson* Defensive line: Peter Woods, Clemson* Defensive line: Rueben Bain Jr., Miami Defensive line: Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech Linebacker: Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh* Linebacker: Wade Woodaz, Clemson Linebacker: Sammy Brown, Clemson Defensive back: Avieon Terrell, Clemson* Defensive back: Chandler Rivers, Duke Defensive back: Terry Moore, Duke Defensive back: Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU Special teams Placekicker: Collin Rogers, SMU Punter: Jack Stonehouse, Syracuse All-purpose: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh *Unanimous choice Preseason awards Coach of the Year: Dabo Swinney, Clemson Player of the Year: Cade Klubnik, Clemson Newcomer of the Year: Cade Klubnik, Clemson Predicted order of finish Clemson Miami SMU Louisville Georgia Tech Duke Florida State Pittsburgh Virginia Tech N.C. State Syracuse North Carolina Boston College Virginia Wake Forest California Stanford Poll participants: Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer; Derrian Carter, Greenville News; Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal; Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat; JD McCarthy, FSU Wire; Zack Pearson, Tar Heels Wire; Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat; Anna Snyder, Fayetteville Observer; Alex Turri, Clemson Wire. Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@ and follow him on X at @brooksHolton. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: All-ACC preseason football team 2025 from the USA TODAY Sports Network
Miami Herald
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
ACC Kickoff: Bill Belichick and the top storylines this week in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE -- Talking season in college football continues this week with ACC Kickoff, and anticipation has never been higher because of a certain coach arriving in Chapel Hill. Every head coach and marquee players representing all 17 ACC football programs descend on Charlotte on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming 2025 football season. Here are three storylines to monitor during ACC Kickoff. --Bill Belichick's long-awaited debut The University of North Carolina has historically been a basketball school. But this offseason, the Tar Heels have been the talk of the college football universe since hiring legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick last December. Belichick, who turned 73 in April, is now a first-time college coach in Chapel Hill after winning six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots from 2000 through 2023. He replaces Mack Brown, who was fired to end his second stint as UNC head coach last November. It's been an interesting first offseason for Belichick, who has been in the news quite a bit with regard to his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson and her involvement with the UNC football program. However, he's also transformed the roster by bringing in 41 transfers, third-most of any Power-Four program. While ACC Kickoff can always be a bit of a media circus, Belichick's first appearance in Charlotte on Thursday should add a new level of buzz before his much-anticipated UNC coaching debut Sept. 1 vs. TCU. --Expectations renewed for Clemson entering 2025 For awhile there, Clemson winning the ACC Championship under Dabo Swinney felt like a bit of a foregorn conclusion. Swinney and the Tigers won six straight conference titles from 2015 through 2020 and a seventh in 2022, along with a pair of national titles in 2016 and 2018. And yet, when Clemson went 9-4 (4-4 in ACC) in 2023, people wondered if the Tigers' run of dominance under Swinney was coming to an end. Clemson quickly proved that doubt foolish last season, capping off a 9-3 regular season with the program's eighth ACC title in the last 10 years and an appearance in the first 12-team edition of the College Football Playoff. The Tigers now enter 2025 with high expectations once again drifting off their 2024 resurgence and the fact that many prominent players from that team return. Senior quarterback Cade Klubnik is back after amassing 3,639 passing yards, 463 rushing yards and 43 total touchdowns (36 passing, seven rushing) in 2024. On the other side of the ball, T.J. Parker Jr. and Peter Woods Jr. are set to anchor a defensive line that is expected to be among the best in the country. --How does SMU follow up its impressive ACC opening act? As conference realignment boomed over the last few years, quite a few teams that changed conferences struggled to adapt to the increased level of competition. That proved to be no problem for SMU, however. The Mustangs finished their first season in the ACC last fall with an 11-1 regular season and made appearances in the ACC Championship Game and College Football Playoff. That makes for a tough act to follow in SMU's second season in the ACC under head coach Rhett Lashlee. Starting quarterback Kevin Jennings is back this season after anchoring the Mustangs' undefeated season behind 3,245 passing yards and 23 touchdown passes. He's likely out for redemption after he threw three interceptions in SMU's 38-10 CFP loss at Penn State. The Mustangs will have to replace leading rushing Brashard Smith (1,332 yards, 14 rushing touchdowns in 2024) and standout defensive linemen Elijah Roberts and Jahfari Harvey, who combined for 15 sacks in 2024. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
