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In the ACC, the top four are so close in talent that likely only a razor-thin margin (a fumble here, a Bruce Perry injury there) is likely to separate them. At any rate, it should be a wild, exciting year, but the ACC crown goes to...

1. N.C. State (7-1 ACC, 11-1 overall)

Life was never more exciting in Raleigh than last year, when the Wolfpack, by two full wins, posted their greatest football season ever. With the main offensive catalysts back for more, NCSU fans are bursting with anticipation.

Does it get any better than QB Philip Rivers? Despite a throwing motion that won't get him on any instructional tapes any time soon, he managed to complete a tremendous 62.7% completion rate, and he showed a deft touch for making the smart play. Now he's only a year better.

So are ACC Rookie of the Year T.A. McLendon and 1,192-yard receiver Jerricho Cotchery. Not even Florida State or Ohio State should be able to outgun this offense -- and they play at home against Virginia and Maryland.

NCSU detractors point out that they have to replace an all-star defensive line, and that will certainly be a challenge, but they have a nice piece to start with in 2001 team sack-leader Terrance Chapman and an intriguing newcomer in Mario Williams. The D-line might betray them, but it likely won't cost them games.

2. Virginia (6-2, 10-2)

The conventional wisdom about Virginia is that they are too young to make a serious charge at the ACC championship. But to what extent are the Cavs really greenhorns? How much worse can a team returning a whopping 19 starters be coming off or a 7-5 season?

The answer, of course, is that they won't be worse. They will be better, and despite the dearth of seniors, one of the most cohesive teams in the conference, and certainly one of the best-coached.

USA Today touts QB Matt Schaub as a Heisman candidate, and his numbers are indeed impressive: 2,976 yards passing, a 4-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio, and ACC Player of the Year honors.

The top four rushers from last year return, as does the entire O-line.

Defensively, the players to remember will be mammoth DE Chris Canty and the 2001 USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year, linbeacker Ahmad Brooks. There's also LB Darryl Blackstock, who had 10 sacks as a freshman last year and garnered numerous awards. This could be the best defense in the ACC.

3. Maryland (6-2, 10-2)

This writer is perversely grateful for superstar RB Bruce Perry's injury, as it makes it easier to sort out this logjam at the top of the ACC. Expected to miss at least four games, there's no telling how quickly it will take for him to be the Perry of old.

It will be hard to fill Perry's shoes, but Josh Allen is going to try. In relief duty last year, Allen quietly rushed for 405 yards and hit pay dirt eight times. The Terps could be worse off.

Scott McBrien gives Maryland a solid QB who makes few mistakes, and two offensive lineman -- C.J Brooks and Lamar Bryant -- were ACC honorable mention or better.

Defensively, two of the three units -- linebacking and secondary -- are arguably the best in the ACC. The stud of the D is safety Madieu Williams, who has that rare combination of speed and strength, a John Lynch with Deion Sanders' legs. He's a likely All-American.

4. Florida State (5-3, 7-5)

It's almost taboo to question a legendary coach, and Bobby Bowden certainly is that. In order not to smite the legends and anger the gods, we convince ourselves that the great coaches never lose an inch, no matter how much times change, and surely Knute Rockne would be just as smashing of a success today as he was in his heyday.

But, if you coach for decade after decade, well into your seventies, the game can, in fact, pass you by. That may be putting it too harshly to apply to Bowden, but there's a reason that the Florida States and Penn States lose a tiny bit of ground year after year.

Certainly, the Seminoles have a lot to prove and, as one of the most investigated, suspected schools in the NCAA, they will have to do it under a microscope.

Chris Rix is another of the great ACC quarterbacks, and if Maryland or Virginia doesn't have the best defense in the conference, Florida State does. Ten starters return, including linebackers Michael Boulware and Kendyll Pope, who combined for 258 tackles last year.

The non-conference schedule, as usual, is brutal: Miami, Florida, Notre Dame, and Colorado.

5. Georgia Tech (3-5, 5-7)

It's at this point the talent in the ACC drops precipitously. The Jackets may be the best of the rest, if only because they have Clemson at home.

Whether its A.J. Suggs or Damarius Bilbo taking snaps for Tech, they will have the luxury of playing behind what many are calling the best offensive line in the ACC (center Hugh Reilly and Tackle Nat Dorsey are the studs and All-American candidates). That's good, because neither QB really excites, and the leading returning receiver has just 36 catches. Welcome to the school of hard knocks.

The defense is lead by its front four, in particular, DE Greg Gathers.

6. Clemson (3-5, 5-7)

Remember when Clemson Memorial Stadium was called that for a reason?

Yes, kids, there was a time when Clemson was the Big Cheese in the ACC, and to go to Clemson and come out with a victory was rare and special indeed.

Then came Florida State, and just like that, Clemson became as invisible as the rest of the ACC. With only four starters returning on defense, that's not likely to change this year.

Cornerback Justin Miller may be the most important man to his team than anyone else in the ACC. In this pass-happy conference, he will be tested and thoroughly relied upon again and again and again. Good thing he's likely up to the task. Last year: seven starts, eight picks, nine breakups, 62 tackles.

Things are a bit rosier for the Tigers on offense, where seven starters return, led by quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, who threw for 420 yards last year against Duke.

7. Duke (3-5, 5-7)

Let's say an unnamed team finished 4-4 in its conference and returned no less than 21 starters on offense and defense. Why, they'd be everybody's darkhorse team and may even find itself on the preseason top-25 polls.

Well, Duke does indeed return 21 starters, and 4-4 would have been their ACC record last year if they finished 4-0 in games decided by five points or less instead of 0-4. The Blue Devils were quite competitive last year (they were only blown out in conference play twice, to Wake Forest and Florida State), thank you very much, and it seems almost cowardly that they are a consensus choice to finish last in the ACC again.

If these aren't the conditions to get them out of the basement, what are? I'm afraid I might even be shafting them by putting them seventh. Surpassing Clemson and Georgia Tech and getting into a minor bowl are very real possibilities.

Not many offenses are led by their fullback, but Alex Wade fits the bill. He's a Mike Alstott-type who ran for 979 yards last year and can block well. The defensive leader is LB Ryan Fowler, but the entire linebacking corps is strong.

8. Wake Forest (2-6, 3-9)

After years of being a laughingstock, the Deacons have enjoyed a nice run over the last few years, complete with bowl appearances (and a Seattle Bowl victory last year) and niceties. Unfortunately, this looks like the year they come crashing back to earth, with just 10 starters returning. If anyone can prove us wrong, though, it's the architect of Wake Forest's awakening, Jim Grobe, who signed a contract to stay at WFU until 2013. Even if they do fail this year, don't expect them to stay down for long.

Seven of those starters return to the defense, including linebacker Brad White, who transferred from Georgia and asserted himself as the star of the defense. The offense should be quicker and more athletic than last year, if much less experienced.

9. North Carolina (1-7, 2-10)

Duke, as mentioned above, can hang their hats on the fact that they were competitive all year. That's not the case for the Tar Heels, who were drubbed again and again and again in league play, indeed only competitive against Duke, whom they beat on a field goal as time expired.

Given that, the 17 returning starters may or may not be a good thing. Doubtlessly, if you put UNC in a conference with the last-place finishers of the other D-1A conferences, it's a conference the Heels win hands down (which says a lot about the ACC).

QB Darian Durant leads this motley crew of an offense. Expect him to lead the ACC in highest-percentage of his team's all-purpose yards. Cornerbacks Derrick Holt and Cedrick Johnson are promising. Still, this school is still, years later, reeling from the loss of Mack Brown, and if things continue to trend downward in Chapel Hill, they may even miss Carl Torbush.

Stay tuned for more college football previews from Kevin Beane!

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