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).
Preseason Preseason Poll The 2016 ACC Preseason Poll was announced following the ACC Football Kickoff meetings in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 21–22. 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. It was voted on by 191 media members, all of which were in attendance for the ACC Football Kickoff.
Atlantic Division poll Clemson – 1,293 (148 first place votes) Florida State – 1,176 (42) Louisville – 961 (1) North Carolina State – 704 Boston College – 441 Syracuse – 426 Wake Forest – 347
Coastal Division poll North Carolina – 1,238 (121) Miami – 1,108 (50) Pittsburgh – 859 (14) Virginia Tech – 697 (3) Duke – 597 (2) Georgia Tech – 588 (1) Virginia – 261
Preseason ACC Player of the Year Deshaun Watson, CLEM – 164 Dalvin Cook, FSU – 18 Elijah Hood, UNC – 4 Brad Kaaya, MIA – 2 Lamar Jackson, LOU – 2 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
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
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
Pre Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 FinalBoston 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 1CFP Not released 2 2 4 4 3 2Duke 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 8C 4 (1) 3 2 (1) 14 12 23 16 15 14 19 18 15 14 12 10 8CFP Not released 22 18 17 14 12 11Georgia 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 21C 23 15 10 4 4 8 7 7 5 5 6 3 11 15 14 20CFP Not released 7 6 5 11 13 13Miami AP RV 25 25 15 14 10 16 RV 20C RV RV 25 19 14 10 17 RV RV 23CFP 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 RVC RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV CFP Not released 25 23Syracuse 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 16C RV RV 19 RV 25 17 22 RV RV 18 19 16CFP Not released 19 14 23 22Wake Forest AP RV RV C RV RV RV CFP Not released
Postseason Bowl games Legend ACC win ACC loss
Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime (EST)ACC teamOpponentScoreAttendanceNew Era Pinstripe BowlDecember 26Yankee Stadium • New York, NYESPN2:00 p.m. No. 23 Pittsburgh Panthers Northwestern WildcatsL 24–3137,918Quick Lane BowlDecember 26Ford Field • Detroit, MIESPN2:30 p.m. Boston College MarylandW 36–3019,117Camping World Independence BowlDecember 26Independence Stadium • Shreveport, LAESPN25:00 p.m. North Carolina State Wolfpack Vanderbilt CommodoresW 41–1728,995Military Bowl Presented by Northrop GrummanDecember 28Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MDESPN3:30 p.m.Wake Forest Demon DeaconsTemple OwlsW 34–2626,656Russell Athletic BowlDecember 29Camping World Stadium • Orlando, FLESPN5:30 p.m.Miami HurricanesNo. 16 West VirginiaW 31–1448,625Hyundai Sun BowlDecember 30Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TXCBS2:00 p.m. North Carolina Tar Heels No. 18 Stanford CardinalL 25–23 42,166Belk BowlDecember 30Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NCESPN5:30 p.m.No. 22 Virginia Tech HokiesArkansas RazorbacksW 35–2446,902Orange BowlDecember 30Hard Rock Stadium • Miami Gardens, FloridaESPN8:00 p.m.Florida State SeminolesMichigan WolverinesW 33–3267,432Taxslayer BowlDecember 31EverBank Field • Jacksonville, FLESPN11:00 a.m.Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsKentucky WildcatsW 33–1843,102College Football Playoff bowl gamesFiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal)December 31University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZESPN7:00 p.m. No. 2 Clemson Tigers No. 3 Ohio State BuckeyesW 31–070,236CFP National ChampionshipJanuary 9Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLESPN8:00 p.m. No. 2 Clemson Tigers No. 1 Alabama Crimson TideW 35–3174,512
* Rankings based on CFP rankings
All-conference teams
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
Rookie of the Year Deondre Francois, Florida State
Coach of the Year Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech
Offensive Player of the Year Lamar Jackson
Offensive Rookie of the Year Deondre Francois, Florida State
Jacobs Blocking Trophy Roderick Johnson, Florida State
Defensive Player of the Year DeMarcus Walker, Florida State
Defensive Rookie of the Year Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
Home game attendance TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7Total Average% of CapacityBoston CollegeAlumni Stadium 44,500 22,728 24,203 44,500† 34,647 30,644 36,220– 192,942 32,157 72.27%ClemsonMemorial Stadium 81,500 78,532 79,590 83,362† 81,200 80,609 81,048 81,542 565,883 80,840 99.19%DukeWallace Wade Stadium 40,000 35,049 21,077 25,201 20,613 38,217 39,212†– 179,369 29,894 74.74%Florida StateDoak Campbell Stadium 79,560 75,831 77,584 77,102 78,025 73,917 78,342†– 460,801 76,800 96.53%Georgia TechBobby Dodd Stadium 55,000 49,992 41,916 53,932† 53,047 47,609 43,886 42,136 332,518 47,502 86.37%LouisvillePapa John's Cardinal Stadium 55,000 53,127 55,632† 55,121 55,218 51,218 54,075– 324,391 54,065 98.30%MiamiHard Rock Stadium 65,326 60,703 57,123 65,685† 58,731 51,796 57,396– 351,434 58,572 89.66% North CarolinaKenan Memorial Stadium 63,000 56,000 54,500 33,000 58,000 41,000 59,000†– 301,500 50,250 79.76% NC StateCarter–Finley Stadium 57,583 57,774 57,810 58,200† 58,200† 56,443 57,789 56,263 402,479 57,497 99.85% PittsburghHeinz Field 68,400 50,149 69,983† 45,246 47,425 40,254 35,425 34,049 322,531 46,075 67.36% SyracuseCarrier Dome 49,262 31,336 32,184 32,288 33,838 34,842† 32,340– 196,828 32,804 66.59% VirginiaScott Stadium 61,500 49,270† 35,211 39,522 40,882 34,824 39,867– 239,576 39,929 64.92% Virginia TechLane Stadium 66,233 62,234 60,054 63,712 63,507 65,632† 63,120– 378,259 63,043 95.18% Wake ForestBB&T Field 31,500 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