ACC Football: Ranking the Rosters for 2025

The ACC had a relatively quiet early signing period and National Signing Day in February. No team from the conference finished inside of the top 10 in national rankings and just one five-star prospect committed to one of the ACC's 17 teams. Over the last five years, Miami, Clemson, Florida State, and North Carolina have averaged the top classes in the conference. Those programs brought in some of the ACC's top hauls, but SMU (No. 30 nationally), Duke (No. 31), and Syracuse (No. 41) also landed standout classes.

Although recruiting rankings aren't 100 percent correct, the scouting services help to paint a valuable picture about roster talent for an upcoming year. Also, there is a direct line between finishing high in recruiting rankings/stars into success. Essentially, stars (and team rankings) matter a lot in college football. The increased usage of the transfer portal is another variable to consider for these rankings, but the main data from each signing period still holds a lot of weight.

Below are the national recruiting ranking averages for ACC schools over the last five (2021-25) classes, according to 247Sports' Composite Team Rankings. Obviously, this doesn't take into account attrition or transfers. However, this data provides an intriguing base line for talent evaluation within each conference.

Ranking the ACC's College Football Rosters in 2025

*Note: Recruiting team rankings above compiled from 247Sports. These rankings do not take into account transfer portal class rankings or departures. 

*The ACC has a new No. 1 in team talent. Clemson held the top spot last season, but Miami moves to No. 1 after hauling in the No. 13 class nationally in '25. The Tigers No. 26 class was their lowest over the last five years.

*Florida State has not reeled in a class ranked inside of the top 15 since '18.

*The Bill Belichick effect for recruiting at North Carolina didn't have enough time to show in '25 with the No. 43 national haul. Since reeling in back-to-back top-15 classes (2021-22), the Tar Heels have failed to finish in the top 25 in each of the last three years.

*Manny Diaz's first full class at Duke ranked No. 31 nationally. That finish is the highest for the Blue Devils over the last five years. 

*Georgia Tech is a program on the rise under coach Brent Key. In addition to back-to-back bowl trips, the Yellow Jackets landed back-to-back standout classes (No. 21 and No. 33). Those two hauls bumped the five-year average to 43.2 - up from 44.6 last season. 

*For the second year in a row, SMU ranks last in the ACC (No. 17) in roster talent from recruiting rankings. However, the Mustangs landed the No. 30 class in the nation for '25, which ranked fifth among ACC teams. SMU has typically landed smaller classes over the last seven years, with only the '25 and '19 hauls over 20 signees from the high school ranks. The Mustangs leaned into the portal during that span, which clearly paid off with a trip to the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff last season.