Virginia Tech has all the pieces in place to not only win consecutive conference titles, but also to make a serious run at a spot in the national championship game in the Rose Bowl. The Hokies have a plethora of talented skill players on offense, including tailbacks Cedric Humes and Mike Imoh, tight end Jeff King and receivers Eddie Royal and Josh Hyman. The offensive line, with two new starters, is a potential trouble spot, but quarterback Marcus Vick's elusiveness will help. Three starting defensive linemen are back, along with Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi, who are as talented as any linebackers in the league. Three starters are gone in the secondary, but senior cornerback Jimmy Williams, a potential first-round choice in the NFL draft, is a great cornerstone. After a tough Sept. 4 opener at North Carolina State, the Hokies' schedule is favorable: They play Boston College and Miami in Blacksburg.

The Hurricanes and Florida State, as usual, will be among the country's best teams and will challenge the Hokies for the conference title and corresponding Bowl Championship Series berth. But Miami, which opens the season with road games at Florida State and Clemson, and the Seminoles, who play at Boston College and Virginia, face tougher roads.

Because of its menacing defense, North Carolina State will be a tremendous challenge for every team it plays. The Wolfpack led Division I-A in total defense last season and six defensive starters are back, including defensive end Mario Williams, who might be the best pass rusher in the country.

N.C. State finished 5-6 last year because Coach Chuck Amato couldn't find a quarterback to replace Philip Rivers, and his team was grossly undisciplined -- the Wolfpack averaged 70.8 penalty yards per game, second-worst in the ACC, and ranked 114th out of 117 Division I-A teams in turnover margin.

New offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, who helped guide the Oakland Raiders to the Super Bowl two years ago, should be able to muster enough production out of Jay Davis, who struggled mightily as Rivers's replacement last season. If that happens, N.C. State could become the Auburn of 2005 -- a team that flourished a year after it flopped under the weight of enormous expectations.

With conference favorites Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech starting new quarterbacks, there isn't an obvious Heisman Trophy candidate in the ACC. Perhaps the most athletically gifted player in the conference is Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, who caught 48 passes for 837 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman while playing in an offense that wasn't that good. Johnson is a big target with great speed and leaping ability. If quarterback Reggie Ball plays with more consistency, Johnson could emerge as one of college football's biggest weapons.

A dark horse candidate? If Virginia Tech wins the ACC, Marcus Vick will be a big reason and plenty of Heisman Trophy voters will recognize his last name.

Georgia Tech Coach Chan Gailey seemed to have his program on the rise after the Yellow Jackets finished 7-5 and beat Syracuse, 51-14, in the Champs Sports Bowl. But the Yellow Jackets' momentum was erased by their offseason of discontent: Defensive end Travis Parker was declared academically ineligible, defensive tackle Darryl Richard suffered a season-ending knee injury and star cornerback Reuben Houston was indicted in a coast-to-coast drug sting. Athletic Director Dave Braine is looking for improvement, but against a schedule that includes road games at Auburn, Virginia Tech, Miami and Virginia and a home game against Georgia, Gailey will have a very difficult time producing.

Miami at Florida State, Sept. 5: Last year's edition was a dud with quarterbacks Chris Rix and Brock Berlin fumbling and stumbling all over the Orange Bowl. This year's matchup features two new quarterbacks -- Kyle Wright for the Hurricanes and probably Xavier Lee for the Seminoles.

Atlantic Division
1. Florida State
2. N.C. State
3. Boston College
4. Clemson
5. Wake Forest
6. Maryland

Coastal Division
1. Virginia Tech
2. Miami
3. Virginia
4. Georgia Tech
5. North Carolina
6. Duke