2016 Atlantic Coast Conference football season explained

2016 ACC football season
Color:
  1. 013ca6
Color Text:
  1. ffffff
League:NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport:Football
Pixels:200px
Duration:September 2016 to January 2017
No Of Teams:14
Draft:2017 NFL Draft
Draft Link:2017 NFL Draft
Top Pick:Mitchell Trubisky (North Carolina)
Picked By:Chicago Bears, 2nd overall
Season:Regular season
Mvp:Lamar Jackson (Louisville)
Top Scorer:Lamar Jackson (126 points)
Conf1:Atlantic
Conf1 Link:ACC Atlantic Division
Conf1 Champ:Clemson
Conf1 Runner-Up:Louisville
Conf2:Coastal
Conf2 Link:ACC Coastal Division
Conf2 Champ:Virginia Tech
Conf2 Runner-Up:North Carolina
Finals:ACC Championship Game
Finals Link:2016 ACC Championship Game
Finals Champ:Clemson
Finals Runner-Up:Virginia Tech
Seasonslist:List of ACC football seasons
Seasonslistnames:ACC
Prevseason Link:2015 Atlantic Coast Conference football season
Prevseason Year:2015
Nextseason Link:2017 Atlantic Coast Conference football season
Nextseason Year:2017

The 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference football season was the 64th season of college football play for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), played from September 2016 to January 2017. The Atlantic Coast Conference consists of 14 members in two divisions. The Atlantic Division consists of Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina State, Syracuse, and Wake Forest. The Coastal Division consists of Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. The two division champions met on December 3 in the 2016 ACC Championship Game. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, but on September 14 the conference announced that the game would be moved to a neutral venue outside of North Carolina due to the controversy surrounding the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act (commonly known as House Bill 2, or HB2).[1]

Preseason

Preseason Poll

The 2016 ACC Preseason Poll was announced following the ACC Football Kickoff meetings in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 21–22.[2] North Carolina and Clemson were each selected to repeat in their respective divisions. Deshaun Watson of Clemson was once again voted the Preseason ACC Player of the Year.[3] It was voted on by 191 media members, all of which were in attendance for the ACC Football Kickoff.

Atlantic Division poll

  1. Clemson – 1,293 (148 first place votes)
  2. Florida State – 1,176 (42)
  3. Louisville – 961 (1)
  4. North Carolina State – 704
  5. Boston College – 441
  6. Syracuse – 426
  7. Wake Forest – 347

Coastal Division poll

  1. North Carolina – 1,238 (121)
  2. Miami – 1,108 (50)
  3. Pittsburgh – 859 (14)
  4. Virginia Tech – 697 (3)
  5. Duke – 597 (2)
  6. Georgia Tech – 588 (1)
  7. Virginia – 261

Preseason ACC Player of the Year

  1. Deshaun Watson, CLEM – 164
  2. Dalvin Cook, FSU – 18
  3. Elijah Hood, UNC – 4
  4. Brad Kaaya, MIA – 2
  5. Lamar Jackson, LOU – 2
  6. DeVon Edwards, DU – 1

Preseason All Conference Teams

Offense

Position Player School
Wide receiverArtavis ScottClemson
Isaiah FordVirginia Tech
Travis RudolphFlorida State
Tight endJordan LeggettClemson
TackleRoderick JohnsonFlorida State
Mitch HyattClemson
GuardDorian JohnsonPittsburgh
Tyrone CrowderClemson
CenterJay GuillermoClemson
QuarterbackDeshaun WatsonClemson
Running backDalvin CookFlorida State
Elijah HoodNorth Carolina

Defense

Position Player School
Defensive endDeMarcus WalkerFlorida State
Ejuan PricePittsburgh
Defensive tackleCarlos WatkinsClemson
DeAngelo BrownLouisville
LinebackerBen BoulwareClemson
Keith KelseyLouisville
Devonte FieldsLouisville
CornerbackCordrea TankersleyClemson
Des LawrenceNorth Carolina
SafetyDerwin JamesFlorida State
Quin BlandingVirginia

Specialist

Position Player School
PlacekickerGreg HuegelClemson
PunterJustin VogelMiami
SpecialistRyan SwitzerNorth Carolina

[4]

Coaches

Note: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season

TeamHead coachYears at schoolOverall recordRecord at schoolACC record
Boston CollegeSteve Addazio427–2314–128–16
ClemsonDabo Swinney961–2661–2648–14
DukeDavid Cutcliffe984–7740–4824–40
Florida StateJimbo Fisher658–1158–1140–8
Georgia TechPaul Johnson9166–7458–3538–26
LouisvilleBobby Petrino7104–3962–1812–6
MiamiMark Richt1145–510–00–0
North CarolinaLarry Fedora555–3621–1721–11
NC StateDave Doeren434–1811–146–18
PittsburghPat Narduzzi28–58–56–2
SyracuseDino Babers137–160–00–0
VirginiaBronco Mendenhall199–430–00–0
Virginia TechJustin Fuente126–230–00–0
Wake ForestDave Clawson393–883–92–14

Rankings

See also: 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings.

Legend
  Improvement in ranking
 Drop in ranking
 Not ranked previous week
align=center style="width:20px; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; background:white;" RVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
тTied with team above or below also with this symbol
  Pre Wk
1 		Wk
2 		Wk
3 		Wk
4 		Wk
5 		Wk
6 		Wk
7 		Wk
8 		Wk
9 		Wk
10 		Wk
11 		Wk
12 		Wk
13 		Wk
14 		Final
Boston CollegeAP
C
CFPNot released 
ClemsonAP 2 (16)2 (2)5553 (1)3 (2)433354331 (60)
C2 (7)2 (2)3 (1)3 (1)3 (1)3 (2)3 (1)3 (1)3 (1)3 (1) 2 (2)533 31
CFPNot released224432
DukeAP
CRVRV
CFPNot released 
Florida StateAP 4 (5)3 (4)2 (4)13122314 1312192017151210 8
C4 (1)32 (1)1412231615141918151412 10 8
CFPNot released22181714 1211
Georgia TechAP RV
CRV
CFPNot released 
LouisvilleAP 1913103 (6)3 (6)77755 531116 15 21
C2315104487755 631115 14 20
CFPNot released76511 1313
MiamiAP RV252515141016RV20
CRVRV2519141017RVRV23
CFPNot released 
North CarolinaAP 22RVRVRVRV17RV22211815RV
C20RVRVRV2316RV212017132425RV
CFPNot released2117
NC StateAP RVRV
CRVRVRV
CFPNot released 
PittsburghAP RVRVRVRVRVRV RV24 22 RV
CRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV
CFPNot released 2523
SyracuseAP
C
CFPNot released 
VirginiaAP
C
CFPNot released 
Virginia TechAP RVRV2517RV252318RVRV19 18 16
CRVRV19RV251722RVRV18 19 16
CFPNot released19142322
Wake ForestAP RVRV
CRVRVRV
CFPNot released 

Postseason

Bowl games

Legend
 ACC win
 ACC loss

See also: 2016–17 NCAA football bowl games.

Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime (EST)ACC teamOpponentScoreAttendance
New Era Pinstripe BowlDecember 26Yankee Stadium • New York, NYESPN2:00 p.m.No. 23 Pittsburgh PanthersNorthwestern WildcatsL 24–3137,918
Quick Lane BowlDecember 26Ford Field • Detroit, MIESPN2:30 p.m.Boston CollegeMarylandW 36–3019,117
Camping World Independence BowlDecember 26Independence Stadium • Shreveport, LAESPN25:00 p.m.North Carolina State WolfpackVanderbilt CommodoresW 41–1728,995
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop GrummanDecember 28Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MDESPN3:30 p.m.Wake Forest Demon DeaconsTemple OwlsW 34–2626,656
Russell Athletic BowlDecember 29Camping World Stadium • Orlando, FLESPN5:30 p.m.Miami HurricanesNo. 16 West VirginiaW 31–1448,625
Hyundai Sun BowlDecember 30Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TXCBS2:00 p.m.North Carolina Tar HeelsNo. 18 Stanford CardinalL 25–2342,166
Belk BowlDecember 30Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NCESPN5:30 p.m.No. 22 Virginia Tech HokiesArkansas RazorbacksW 35–2446,902
Orange BowlDecember 30Hard Rock Stadium • Miami Gardens, FloridaESPN8:00 p.m.Florida State SeminolesMichigan WolverinesW 33–3267,432
Taxslayer BowlDecember 31EverBank Field • Jacksonville, FLESPN11:00 a.m.Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsKentucky WildcatsW 33–1843,102
College Football Playoff bowl games
Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal)December 31University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZESPN7:00 p.m.No. 2 Clemson TigersNo. 3 Ohio State BuckeyesW 31–070,236
CFP National ChampionshipJanuary 9Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLESPN8:00 p.m.No. 2 Clemson TigersNo. 1 Alabama Crimson TideW 35–3174,512

All-conference teams

[5]

First Team

PositionPlayerClassTeam
First Team Offense
QBLamar JacksonSoLouisville
RBDalvin CookJrFlorida State
James ConnerJrPittsburgh
WRMike WilliamsJrClemson
Amba Etta-TawoSrSyracuse
Ryan SwitzerSrNorth Carolina
TEJordan LeggettSrClemson
TRoderick JohnsonJrFlorida State
Mitch HyattSoClemson
GTyrone CrowderJrClemson
Dorian JohnsonSrPittsburgh
CJay GuillermoSrClemson
First Team Defense
DEDeMarcus WalkerSrFlorida State
Ejuan PriceSrPittsburgh
DTCarlos WatkinsSrClemson
Woody BaronSrVirginia Tech
LBBen BoulwareSrClemson
Micah KiserJrVirginia
Devonte FieldsSrLouisville
CBTarvarus McFaddenSoFlorida State
Cordrea TankersleySrClemson
SQuin BlandingJrVirginia
Jadar JohnsonSrClemson
First Team Special Teams
PKMike WeaverJrWake Forest
PNicholas ConteSrVirginia
SPQuadree HendersonSoPittsburgh

Second Team

PositionPlayerClassTeam
Second Team Offense
QBDeshaun WatsonJrClemson
RBMatthew DayesSrNorth Carolina State
Wayne GallmanJrClemson
WRIsaiah FordJrVirginia Tech
Travis RudolphJrFlorida State
Ahmmon RichardsFrMiami
TECole HikutiniSrLouisville
TAdam BisnowatySrPittsburgh
Jon HeckSrNorth Carolina
GTony AdamsJrNorth Carolina State
Kareem AreSrFlorida State
CLucas CrowleySrNorth Carolina
Second Team Defense
DEHarold LandryJrBoston College
Christian WilkinsSoClemson
DTDexter LawrenceFrClemson
DeAngelo BrownSrLouisville
LBMarquel LeeSrWake Forest
Keith KelseySrLouisville
Tremaine EdmundsSoVirginia Tech
CBJaire AlexanderSoLouisville
Corn ElderSrMiami
SJordan WhiteheadSoPittsburgh
Jessie BatesFrWake Forest
Second Team Special Teams
PKGreg HuegelSoClemson
PJustin VogelSrMiami
SPT. J. LoganSrNorth Carolina

Third Team

PositionPlayerClassTeam
Third Team Offense
QBMitch TrubiskyJrNorth Carolina
RBMark WaltonSoMiami
Elijah HoodJrNorth Carolina
WRArtavis ScottJrClemson
James QuickSrLouisville
Stacy ColeySrMiami
TEBucky HodgesJrVirginia Tech
TBrian O'NeillSoPittsburgh
Jonathan McLaughlinSrVirginia Tech
GAugie ConteSrVirginia Tech
Danny IsidoraSrMiami
CFreddie BurdenSrGeorgia Tech
Third Team Defense
DEBradley ChubbJrNorth Carolina State
Duke EjioforJrWake Forest
DTDerrick NnadiJrFlorida State
Nazair JonesJrNorth Carolina
LBBen HumphreysSoDuke
Andrew MotuapuakaJrVirginia Tech
Zaire FranklinJrSyracuse
CBGreg StromanJrVirginia Tech
Breon BordersSrDuke
SJosh Harvey-ClemonsSrLouisville
Chucky WilliamsJrLouisville
Third Team Special Teams
PKJoey SlyeJrVirginia Tech
PSterling HofrichterFrSyracuse
SPBrisly EstimeSrSyracuse

ACC individual awards

ACC Player of the Year

Lamar Jackson, Louisville [6]

Rookie of the Year

Deondre Francois, Florida State [7]

Coach of the Year

Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech

Offensive Player of the Year

Lamar Jackson[8]

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Deondre Francois, Florida State [9]

Jacobs Blocking Trophy

Roderick Johnson, Florida State [10]

Defensive Player of the Year

DeMarcus Walker, Florida State [11]

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Dexter Lawrence, Clemson

Home game attendance

TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7Total Average% of Capacity
Boston CollegeAlumni Stadium44,500[12] 22,72824,20344,500†34,64730,64436,220–192,94232,15772.27%
ClemsonMemorial Stadium81,500[13] 78,53279,59083,362†81,20080,60981,04881,542565,88380,84099.19%
DukeWallace Wade Stadium40,000[14] 35,04921,07725,20120,61338,21739,212†–179,36929,89474.74%
Florida StateDoak Campbell Stadium79,560[15] 75,83177,58477,10278,02573,91778,342†–460,80176,80096.53%
Georgia TechBobby Dodd Stadium55,000[16] 49,99241,91653,932†53,04747,60943,88642,136332,51847,50286.37%
LouisvillePapa John's Cardinal Stadium55,000[17] 53,12755,632†55,12155,21851,21854,075–324,39154,06598.30%
MiamiHard Rock Stadium65,326[18] 60,70357,12365,685†58,73151,79657,396–351,43458,57289.66%
North CarolinaKenan Memorial Stadium63,000[19] 56,00054,50033,00058,00041,00059,000†–301,50050,25079.76%
NC StateCarter–Finley Stadium57,583[20] 57,77457,81058,200†58,200†56,44357,78956,263402,47957,49799.85%
PittsburghHeinz Field68,400[21] 50,14969,983†45,24647,42540,25435,42534,049322,53146,07567.36%
SyracuseCarrier Dome49,262[22] 31,33632,18432,28833,83834,842†32,340–196,82832,80466.59%
VirginiaScott Stadium61,500[23] 49,270†35,21139,52240,88234,82439,867–239,57639,92964.92%
Virginia TechLane Stadium66,233[24] 62,23460,05463,71263,50765,632†63,120–378,25963,04395.18%
Wake ForestBB&T Field31,500[25] 24,39825,97225,16227,93825,33431,152†24,866184,82226,40383.82%

Bold – Exceeded capacity
†Season High

NFL Draft

See main article: 2017 NFL draft.

Round # Pick # width=40% style="background:#A8BDEC;"NFL Team !width=15% style="background:#A8BDEC;"Player !width=13% style="background:#A8BDEC;"Position !College
12Chicago Bears(from San Francisco) North Carolina
17Clemson
112Houston Texans(from Philadelphia via Cleveland) Clemson
129Cleveland Browns(from Green Bay) Miami
241Minnesota Vikings(from Cincinnati) Florida State
251Florida State
261NC State
391Los Angeles Rams(from Kansas City via Buffalo) Boston College
397Clemson
3102North Carolina
3105Pittsburgh
4113Miami
4115Arizona Cardinals(from Carolina) Pittsburgh
4118North Carolina
4133
4140Clemson
4142Houston Texans(from Cleveland) Clemson
5150Clemson
5152
5160Cleveland Browns(from Minnesota via NY Jets)Florida State
5163Buffalo Bills(from Denver via New England)Boston College
5168Wake Forest
5171Buffalo Bills(from Dallas)
5179
5180Minnesota Vikings(from Kansas City)
6186Baltimore Ravens(from San Francisco)Virginia Tech
6196
6200New York Giants(from Indianapolis via New England and Tennessee)
6201Minnesota Vikings(from Washington) Virginia Tech
6206Los Angeles Rams(from Miami)Virginia Tech
6213Louisville
6215Detroit Lions(from New England)
6216Dallas Cowboys(from Kansas City via New England)Florida State
7219Minnesota Vikings(from Cleveland via San Francisco)
7229San Francisco 49ers(from New Orleans)
7230Washington Redskins(from Philadelphia via Minnesota) Louisville
7233Carolina Panthers(from Indianapolis via Cleveland) Georgia Tech
7234Los Angeles Rams(from Baltimore)
7237Miami Dolphins(from Tampa Bay) Virginia Tech
7240Jacksonville Jaguars(from Miami) Miami
7242North Carolina
7245Minnesota Vikings(from Kansas City) NC State
7252Cleveland Browns(from Denver) NC State

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ACC to relocate 2016 football championship from North Carolina due to HB2 law. September 14, 2016. Chip Patterson. CBS Sports.
  2. Web site: ACC Announces Student-Athletes Attending the 2016 ACC Football Kickoff. TheACC.com. 25 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160714082601/http://www.theacc.com/news/student-athletes-attending-acc-football-kickoff-07-11-2016. 14 July 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  3. Web site: 2016. Clemson Leads ACC Football Kickoff Preseason Poll. Atlantic Coast Conference. 25 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160727193504/http://www.theacc.com/news/clemson-leads-acc-football-kickoff-preseason-poll-07-25-2016. 27 July 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  4. Web site: 2016 . 2016 Preseason All-ACC Team. USA Today. 28 July 2016.
  5. Web site: The ACC . 2016 . ACSMA Announces 2016 All-ACC Football Teams . theacc.com . 20 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161128200608/http://www.theacc.com/news/acsma-announces-2016-all-acc-football-teams-11-28-2016 . 28 November 2016 . dead . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: Deshaun Watson voted 2nd for ACC POTY Award. 30 November 2016.
  7. Web site: Florida State’s Francois Voted ACC Rookie of the Year; Clemson’s Lawrence is Defensive Rookie of the Year News . 2017-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161228143843/http://www.theacc.com/news/florida-state-francois-voted-acc-rookie-of-the-year-clemson-lawrence-is-defensive-rookie-of-the-year-11-29-2016 . 2016-12-28 . dead .
  8. Web site: Deshaun Watson voted 2nd for ACC POTY Award. 30 November 2016.
  9. Web site: Florida State’s Francois Voted ACC Rookie of the Year; Clemson’s Lawrence is Defensive Rookie of the Year News . 2017-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161228143843/http://www.theacc.com/news/florida-state-francois-voted-acc-rookie-of-the-year-clemson-lawrence-is-defensive-rookie-of-the-year-11-29-2016 . 2016-12-28 . dead .
  10. Web site: Florida State’s Johnson Named ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy Recipient News . 2017-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161128050659/http://www.theacc.com/news/florida-state-s-johnson-named-acc-jacobs-blocking-trophy-recipient-11-27-2016 . 2016-11-28 . dead .
  11. Web site: Deshaun Watson voted 2nd for ACC POTY Award. 30 November 2016.
  12. Web site: Alumni Stadium: A to Z. bceagles.com. September 23, 2016.
  13. Web site: Memorial Stadium-Death Valley-Denny Stadium. ClemsonTigers.com. September 23, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160924022856/http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205504990. September 24, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  14. Web site: Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. goduke.com. September 23, 2016. October 12, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161012031200/http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=218252. dead.
  15. Web site: Bobby Bowden Field at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Seminoles.com. September 23, 2016.
  16. Web site: Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. RamblinWreck.com. September 23, 2016.
  17. Web site: Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium. September 23, 2016.
  18. Web site: Hard Rock Stadium FAQs. HardRockStadium.com. September 23, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160922231817/http://hardrockstadium.com/faqs. September 22, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  19. Web site: Kenan Stadium. goheels.com. September 23, 2016.
  20. Web site: Facilities. gopack.com. September 23, 2016.
  21. Web site: Heinz Field Facts. HeinzField.com. September 23, 2016. October 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141003160106/http://heinzfield.com/stadium/heinz-field-facts/. dead.
  22. Web site: Carrier Dome. https://web.archive.org/web/20140209200641/http://cuse.com/facilities/carrier-dome.aspx. dead. February 9, 2014. cuse.com. September 23, 2016.
  23. Web site: Carl Smith Center, home of David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium. virginiasports.com. September 23, 2016.
  24. Web site: Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. vt.edu. September 23, 2016.
  25. Web site: Wake Forest Facilities. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518114125/http://www.wakeforestsports.com/facilities/wake-bbt-field.html. dead. May 18, 2015. wakeforestsports.com. September 23, 2016.

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