2016 Atlantic Coast Conference football season

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]

2016 ACC football season
League	NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport	Football
Duration	September 2016 to January 2017
Number of teams	14
2017 NFL Draft
Top draft pick	Mitchell Trubisky (North Carolina)
Picked by	Chicago Bears, 2nd overall
Regular season
Season MVP	Lamar Jackson (Louisville)
Top scorer	Lamar Jackson (126 points)
Atlantic champions	Clemson
Atlantic runners-up	Louisville
Coastal champions	Virginia Tech
Coastal runners-up	North Carolina
ACC Championship Game
Champions	Clemson
Runners-up	Virginia Tech

2016 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic Division
No. 1 Clemson xy$#		7	–	1					14	–	1
No. 21 Louisville x		7	–	1					9	–	4
No. 8 Florida State		5	–	3					10	–	3
NC State		3	–	5					7	–	6
Wake Forest		3	–	5					7	–	6
Boston College		2	–	6					7	–	6
Syracuse		2	–	6					4	–	8
Coastal Division
No. 16 Virginia Tech xy		6	–	2					10	–	4
North Carolina		5	–	3					8	–	5
No. 20 Miami (FL)		5	–	3					9	–	4
Pittsburgh		5	–	3					8	–	5
Georgia Tech		4	–	4					9	–	4
Duke		1	–	7					4	–	8
Virginia		1	–	7					2	–	10
Championship: Clemson 42, Virginia Tech 35
# – College Football Playoff champion $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

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 receiver	Artavis Scott	Clemson
	Isaiah Ford	Virginia Tech
	Travis Rudolph	Florida State
Tight end	Jordan Leggett	Clemson
Tackle	Roderick Johnson	Florida State
	Mitch Hyatt	Clemson
Guard	Dorian Johnson	Pittsburgh
	Tyrone Crowder	Clemson
Center	Jay Guillermo	Clemson
Quarterback	Deshaun Watson	Clemson
Running back	Dalvin Cook	Florida State
	Elijah Hood	North Carolina

Defense

Position	Player	School
Defensive end	DeMarcus Walker	Florida State
	Ejuan Price	Pittsburgh
Defensive tackle	Carlos Watkins	Clemson
	DeAngelo Brown	Louisville
Linebacker	Ben Boulware	Clemson
	Keith Kelsey	Louisville
	Devonte Fields	Louisville
Cornerback	Cordrea Tankersley	Clemson
	Des Lawrence	North Carolina
Safety	Derwin James	Florida State
	Quin Blanding	Virginia

Specialist

Position	Player	School
Placekicker	Greg Huegel	Clemson
Punter	Justin Vogel	Miami
Specialist	Ryan Switzer	North Carolina

^[4]

Coaches

Note: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season

Team	Head coach	Years at school	Overall record	Record at school	ACC record
Boston College	Steve Addazio	4	27–23	14–12	8–16
Clemson	Dabo Swinney	9	61–26	61–26	48–14
Duke	David Cutcliffe	9	84–77	40–48	24–40
Florida State	Jimbo Fisher	6	58–11	58–11	40–8
Georgia Tech	Paul Johnson	9	166–74	58–35	38–26
Louisville	Bobby Petrino	7	104–39	62–18	12–6
Miami	Mark Richt	1	145–51	0–0	0–0
North Carolina	Larry Fedora	5	55–36	21–17	21–11
NC State	Dave Doeren	4	34–18	11–14	6–18
Pittsburgh	Pat Narduzzi	2	8–5	8–5	6–2
Syracuse	Dino Babers	1	37–16	0–0	0–0
Virginia	Bronco Mendenhall	1	99–43	0–0	0–0
Virginia Tech	Justin Fuente	1	26–23	0–0	0–0
Wake Forest	Dave Clawson	3	93–88	3–9	2–14

Rankings

See also: 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Legend

		Improvement in ranking
		Drop in ranking
		Not ranked previous week
RV		Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll

		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 College	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
Clemson	AP	2 (16)	2 (2)	5	5	5	3 (1)	3 (2)	4	3	3	3	5	4	3	3	1 (60)
	C	2 (7)	2 (2)	3 (1)	3 (1)	3 (1)	3 (2)	3 (1)	3 (1)	3 (1)	3 (1)	2 (2)	5	3	3	3	1
	CFP	Not released									2	2	4	4	3	2
Duke	AP
	C	RV	RV
	CFP	Not released
Florida State	AP	4 (5)	3 (4)	2 (4)	13	12	23	14	13	12	19	20	17	15	12	10	8
	C	4 (1)	3	2 (1)	14	12	23	16	15	14	19	18	15	14	12	10	8
	CFP	Not released									22	18	17	14	12	11
Georgia Tech	AP				RV
	C				RV
	CFP	Not released
Louisville	AP	19	13	10	3 (6)	3 (6)	7	7	7	5	5	5	3	11	16	15	21
	C	23	15	10	4	4	8	7	7	5	5	6	3	11	15	14	20
	CFP	Not released									7	6	5	11	13	13
Miami	AP	RV	25	25	15	14	10	16	RV								20
	C	RV	RV	25	19	14	10	17	RV	RV							23
	CFP	Not released
North Carolina	AP	22	RV	RV	RV	RV	17	RV	22	21	18	15	RV
	C	20	RV	RV	RV	23	16	RV	21	20	17	13	24	25	RV
	CFP	Not released									21	17
NC State	AP							RV	RV
	C		RV					RV	RV
	CFP	Not released
Pittsburgh	AP	RV	RV	RV					RV	RV			RV	RV	24	22	RV
	C	RV	RV	RV				RV	RV	RV	RV		RV	RV	RV	RV
	CFP	Not released													25	23
Syracuse	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
Virginia	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
Virginia Tech	AP				RV	RV	25	17	RV	25	23	18	RV	RV	19	18	16
	C					RV	RV	19	RV	25	17	22	RV	RV	18	19	16
	CFP	Not released									19	14			23	22
Wake Forest	AP					RV		RV
	C					RV	RV	RV
	CFP	Not released

Postseason

Bowl games

Legend
	ACC win
	ACC loss

See also: 2016–17 NCAA football bowl games

Bowl game	Date	Site	Television	Time (EST)	ACC team	Opponent	Score	Attendance
New Era Pinstripe Bowl	December 26	Yankee Stadium • New York, NY	ESPN	2:00 p.m.	No. 23 Pittsburgh Panthers	Northwestern Wildcats	L 24–31	37,918
Quick Lane Bowl	December 26	Ford Field • Detroit, MI	ESPN	2:30 p.m.	Boston College	Maryland	W 36–30	19,117
Camping World Independence Bowl	December 26	Independence Stadium • Shreveport, LA	ESPN2	5:00 p.m.	North Carolina State Wolfpack	Vanderbilt Commodores	W 41–17	28,995
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman	December 28	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MD	ESPN	3:30 p.m.	Wake Forest Demon Deacons	Temple Owls	W 34–26	26,656
Russell Athletic Bowl	December 29	Camping World Stadium • Orlando, FL	ESPN	5:30 p.m.	Miami Hurricanes	No. 16 West Virginia	W 31–14	48,625
Hyundai Sun Bowl	December 30	Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TX	CBS	2:00 p.m.	North Carolina Tar Heels	No. 18 Stanford Cardinal	L 25–23	42,166
Belk Bowl	December 30	Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC	ESPN	5:30 p.m.	No. 22 Virginia Tech Hokies	Arkansas Razorbacks	W 35–24	46,902
Orange Bowl	December 30	Hard Rock Stadium • Miami Gardens, Florida	ESPN	8:00 p.m.	Florida State Seminoles	Michigan Wolverines	W 33–32	67,432
Taxslayer Bowl	December 31	EverBank Field • Jacksonville, FL	ESPN	11:00 a.m.	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	Kentucky Wildcats	W 33–18	43,102
College Football Playoff bowl games
Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal)	December 31	University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZ	ESPN	7:00 p.m.	No. 2 Clemson Tigers	No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes	W 31–0	70,236
CFP National Championship	January 9	Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL	ESPN	8:00 p.m.	No. 2 Clemson Tigers	No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide	W 35–31	74,512

* Rankings based on CFP rankings

All-conference teams

^[5]

First Team Position Player Class Team First Team Offense QB Lamar Jackson So Louisville RB Dalvin Cook Jr Florida State James Conner Jr Pittsburgh WR Mike Williams Jr Clemson Amba Etta-Tawo Sr Syracuse Ryan Switzer Sr North Carolina TE Jordan Leggett Sr Clemson T Roderick Johnson Jr Florida State Mitch Hyatt So Clemson G Tyrone Crowder Jr Clemson Dorian Johnson Sr Pittsburgh C Jay Guillermo Sr Clemson First Team Defense DE DeMarcus Walker Sr Florida State Ejuan Price Sr Pittsburgh DT Carlos Watkins Sr Clemson Woody Baron Sr Virginia Tech LB Ben Boulware Sr Clemson Micah Kiser Jr Virginia Devonte Fields Sr Louisville CB Tarvarus McFadden So Florida State Cordrea Tankersley Sr Clemson S Quin Blanding Jr Virginia Jadar Johnson Sr Clemson First Team Special Teams PK Mike Weaver Jr Wake Forest P Nicholas Conte Sr Virginia SP Quadree Henderson So Pittsburgh

Second Team Position Player Class Team Second Team Offense QB Deshaun Watson Jr Clemson RB Matthew Dayes Sr North Carolina State Wayne Gallman Jr Clemson WR Isaiah Ford Jr Virginia Tech Travis Rudolph Jr Florida State Ahmmon Richards Fr Miami TE Cole Hikutini Sr Louisville T Adam Bisnowaty Sr Pittsburgh Jon Heck Sr North Carolina G Tony Adams Jr North Carolina State Kareem Are Sr Florida State C Lucas Crowley Sr North Carolina Second Team Defense DE Harold Landry Jr Boston College Christian Wilkins So Clemson DT Dexter Lawrence Fr Clemson DeAngelo Brown Sr Louisville LB Marquel Lee Sr Wake Forest Keith Kelsey Sr Louisville Tremaine Edmunds So Virginia Tech CB Jaire Alexander So Louisville Corn Elder Sr Miami S Jordan Whitehead So Pittsburgh Jessie Bates Fr Wake Forest Second Team Special Teams PK Greg Huegel So Clemson P Justin Vogel Sr Miami SP T. J. Logan Sr North Carolina

Third Team Position Player Class Team Third Team Offense QB Mitch Trubisky Jr North Carolina RB Mark Walton So Miami Elijah Hood Jr North Carolina WR Artavis Scott Jr Clemson James Quick Sr Louisville Stacy Coley Sr Miami TE Bucky Hodges Jr Virginia Tech T Brian O'Neill So Pittsburgh Jonathan McLaughlin Sr Virginia Tech G Augie Conte Sr Virginia Tech Danny Isidora Sr Miami C Freddie Burden Sr Georgia Tech Third Team Defense DE Bradley Chubb Jr North Carolina State Duke Ejiofor Jr Wake Forest DT Derrick Nnadi Jr Florida State Nazair Jones Jr North Carolina LB Ben Humphreys So Duke Andrew Motuapuaka Jr Virginia Tech Zaire Franklin Jr Syracuse CB Greg Stroman Jr Virginia Tech Breon Borders Sr Duke S Josh Harvey-Clemons Sr Louisville Chucky Williams Jr Louisville Third Team Special Teams PK Joey Slye Jr Virginia Tech P Sterling Hofrichter Fr Syracuse SP Brisly Estime Sr Syracuse

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

Team	Stadium	Capacity	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7	Total	Average	% of Capacity
Boston College	Alumni Stadium	44,500[12]	22,728	24,203	44,500†	34,647	30,644	36,220	–	192,942	32,157	72.27%
Clemson	Memorial Stadium	81,500[13]	78,532	79,590	83,362†	81,200	80,609	81,048	81,542	565,883	80,840	99.19%
Duke	Wallace Wade Stadium	40,000[14]	35,049	21,077	25,201	20,613	38,217	39,212†	–	179,369	29,894	74.74%
Florida State	Doak Campbell Stadium	79,560[15]	75,831	77,584	77,102	78,025	73,917	78,342†	–	460,801	76,800	96.53%
Georgia Tech	Bobby Dodd Stadium	55,000[16]	49,992	41,916	53,932†	53,047	47,609	43,886	42,136	332,518	47,502	86.37%
Louisville	Papa John's Cardinal Stadium	55,000[17]	53,127	55,632†	55,121	55,218	51,218	54,075	–	324,391	54,065	98.30%
Miami	Hard Rock Stadium	65,326[18]	60,703	57,123	65,685†	58,731	51,796	57,396	–	351,434	58,572	89.66%
North Carolina	Kenan Memorial Stadium	63,000[19]	56,000	54,500	33,000	58,000	41,000	59,000†	–	301,500	50,250	79.76%
NC State	Carter–Finley Stadium	57,583[20]	57,774	57,810	58,200†	58,200†	56,443	57,789	56,263	402,479	57,497	99.85%
Pittsburgh	Heinz Field	68,400[21]	50,149	69,983†	45,246	47,425	40,254	35,425	34,049	322,531	46,075	67.36%
Syracuse	Carrier Dome	49,262[22]	31,336	32,184	32,288	33,838	34,842†	32,340	–	196,828	32,804	66.59%
Virginia	Scott Stadium	61,500[23]	49,270†	35,211	39,522	40,882	34,824	39,867	–	239,576	39,929	64.92%
Virginia Tech	Lane Stadium	66,233[24]	62,234	60,054	63,712	63,507	65,632†	63,120	–	378,259	63,043	95.18%
Wake Forest	BB&T Field	31,500[25]	24,398	25,972	25,162	27,938	25,334	31,152†	24,866	184,822	26,403	83.82%

Bold – Exceeded capacity
†Season High

NFL Draft

Main article: 2017 NFL draft

Round #	Pick #	NFL Team	Player	Position	College
1	2	Chicago Bears(from San Francisco)	Mitchell Trubisky	Quarterback	North Carolina
1	7	Los Angeles Chargers	Mike Williams	Wide receiver	Clemson
1	12	Houston Texans(from Philadelphia via Cleveland)	Deshaun Watson	Quarterback	Clemson
1	29	Cleveland Browns(from Green Bay)	David Njoku	Tight end	Miami
2	41	Minnesota Vikings(from Cincinnati)	Dalvin Cook	Running back	Florida State
2	51	Denver Broncos	DeMarcus Walker	Defensive end	Florida State
2	61	Green Bay Packers	Josh Jones	Safety	NC State
3	91	Los Angeles Rams(from Kansas City via Buffalo)	John Johnson	Safety	Boston College
3	97	Miami Dolphins	Cordrea Tankersley	Cornerback	Clemson
3	102	Seattle Seahawks	Nazair Jones	Defensive tackle	North Carolina
3	105	Pittsburgh Steelers	James Conner	Running back	Pittsburgh
4	113	Los Angeles Chargers	Rayshawn Jenkins	Safety	Miami
4	115	Arizona Cardinals(from Carolina)	Dorian Johnson	Guard	Pittsburgh
4	118	Philadelphia Eagles	Mack Hollins	Wide receiver	North Carolina
4	133	Dallas Cowboys	Ryan Switzer	Wide receiver	North Carolina
4	140	New York Giants	Wayne Gallman	Running back	Clemson
4	142	Houston Texans(from Cleveland)	Carlos Watkins	Defensive tackle	Clemson
5	150	New York Jets	Jordan Leggett	Tight end	Clemson
5	152	Carolina Panthers	Corn Elder	Cornerback	Miami
5	160	Cleveland Browns(from Minnesota via NY Jets)	Roderick Johnson	Tackle	Florida State
5	163	Buffalo Bills(from Denver via New England)	Matt Milano	Linebacker	Boston College
5	168	Oakland Raiders	Marquel Lee	Linebacker	Wake Forest
5	171	Buffalo Bills(from Dallas)	Nathan Peterman	Quarterback	Pittsburgh
5	179	Arizona Cardinals	T. J. Logan	Running back	North Carolina
5	180	Minnesota Vikings(from Kansas City)	Danny Isidora	Guard	Miami
6	186	Baltimore Ravens(from San Francisco)	Chuck Clark	Safety	Virginia Tech
6	196	New Orleans Saints	Al-Quadin Muhammad	Defensive end	Miami
6	200	New York Giants(from Indianapolis via New England and Tennessee)	Adam Bisnowaty	Tackle	Pittsburgh
6	201	Minnesota Vikings(from Washington)	Bucky Hodges	Tight end	Virginia Tech
6	206	Los Angeles Rams(from Miami)	Sam Rogers	Fullback	Virginia Tech
6	213	Pittsburgh Steelers	Colin Holba	Long snapper	Louisville
6	215	Detroit Lions(from New England)	Brad Kaaya	Quarterback	Miami
6	216	Dallas Cowboys(from Kansas City via New England)	Marquez White	Cornerback	Florida State
7	219	Minnesota Vikings(from Cleveland via San Francisco)	Stacy Coley	Wide receiver	Miami
7	229	San Francisco 49ers(from New Orleans)	Adrian Colbert	Cornerback	Miami
7	230	Washington Redskins(from Philadelphia via Minnesota)	Josh Harvey-Clemons	Safety	Louisville
7	233	Carolina Panthers(from Indianapolis via Cleveland)	Harrison Butker	Kicker	Georgia Tech
7	234	Los Angeles Rams(from Baltimore)	Ejuan Price	Linebacker	Pittsburgh
7	237	Miami Dolphins(from Tampa Bay)	Isaiah Ford	Wide receiver	Virginia Tech
7	240	Jacksonville Jaguars(from Miami)	Marquez Williams	Fullback	Miami
7	242	Oakland Raiders	Elijah Hood	Running back	North Carolina
7	245	Minnesota Vikings(from Kansas City)	Jack Tocho	Cornerback	NC State
7	252	Cleveland Browns(from Denver)	Matthew Dayes	Running back	NC State

References

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2. "ACC Announces Student-Athletes Attending the 2016 ACC Football Kickoff". TheACC.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
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4. "2016 Preseason All-ACC Team". USA Today. 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
5. The ACC (2016). "ACSMA Announces 2016 All-ACC Football Teams". theacc.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
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7. "Florida State's Francois Voted ACC Rookie of the Year; Clemson's Lawrence is Defensive Rookie of the Year | News". Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
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17. "Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium". Retrieved September 23, 2016.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
18. "Hard Rock Stadium FAQs". HardRockStadium.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
19. "Kenan Stadium". goheels.com. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
20. "Facilities". gopack.com. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
21. "Heinz Field Facts". HeinzField.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
22. "Carrier Dome". cuse.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
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25. "Wake Forest Facilities". wakeforestsports.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2016.