Duke is a step above the group, then I would put UNC/Clemson/Lville/State/UVA as the second group of the ACC (in no order). VT I would put as the top of the third grouping with SMU/Wake/Miami (maybe add Pitt/Syracuse here). Think Duke/Lville/NC State comprises the top 3, UVA/Clemson/UNC goes 4-6 (no order) and then VT comes in around 7/8th. Haven’t really looked at schedules but the margins will be small I think here. Things like who VT gets home/away matters, when they fall in the season (wanted toughest games latest, etc) and what types of weeks you have. Want to avoid Duke/UNC/Virginia for example in a 10 day stretch. But think it is hard at this point to say with what NC State has done, Lville has done, Duke being Duke. Brad Brownell doing what Bennett did at uva it seems (just reeling off top 4 finishes season after season now it seems), along with UVA reloaded and UNC always having talent, just tough to argue anything higher than 5th/6th for VT on an early outlook. Regardless, ACC looks a lot better this year. Need everyone to do well in early season power conference matchups. Virginia has Northwestern and Butler the second week of season. If acc wants 8-10 teams in, have to have UVA win both. VT has to beat SC, etc etc.