6. NORTH CAROLINA STATE — New coach Tom O'Brien has plenty of questions during preseason practice, including settling on a quarterback and running back ... Last year's last-place pick in the Atlantic was eventual conference champ Wake Forest.

COASTAL DIVISION

1. VIRGINIA TECH — Preseason all-ACC LBs Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi will anchor a defense that has been one of the nation's best since 2005 ... QB Sean Glennon must improve after throwing as many touchdowns (11) last season as interceptions ... Week 2 game at LSU sets up as one of the league's marquee nonconference matchups and could play a huge role in the national title chase.

2. GEORGIA TECH — Biggest concern is replacing WR Calvin Johnson, a first-round NFL draft pick who caught 76 passes for 1,202 yards and 15 TDs ... QB Taylor Bennett passed for 326 yards and three TDs in Gator Bowl loss to West Virginia ... RB Tashard Choice has surpassed 100 yards rushing in seven straight games.

3. MIAMI — New offensive coordinator Patrick Nix, who left Georgia Tech for Miami, has nine starters back, including QB Kyle Wright, RB Javarris James, WR Lance Leggett and preseason all-ACC lineman Derrick Morse ... Must replace an ACC-high three NFL first-round draft picks.

4. VIRGINIA — Loses an ACC-low three starters, but the only loss on defense is a critical one: CB Marcus Hamilton had 15 career interceptions ... Defensive line could be the Cavaliers' strength, with all-ACC DT Chris Long.

5. NORTH CAROLINA — Has a pair of big-play weapons in WRs Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate, who in the finale at Duke became the third player in school history to score on punt and kickoff returns in the same game.

6. DUKE — The only ACC team that returns all 11 starters ... Enters the season on a 20-game losing streak, the longest in major college football ... Has lost 17 straight ACC games.

DMN power ranking: 5

DMN pick: Virginia Tech

3 players to watch: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College; James Davis, RB, Clemson; Vince Hall, LB, Virginia Tech

3 games to watch: Miami at Florida State (Oct. 20), Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech (Nov. 1), Florida State at Virginia Tech (Nov. 10)