Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - PLAYOFF PUSH: Can Miami, SMU, and Louisville EARN Two CFP Bids for the ACC This Year?

Episode Date: August 13, 2026

ACC Football powers up for a two-bid College Football Playoff run—can Miami, SMU, or Louisville secure a spot on the national stage? Julian Council and Kenton Gibbs spotlight Miami’s elite roster led by transfer quarterback Darian Mensah and Cooper Barkate, SMU’s explosive offense powered by Kevin Jennings, and Louisville’s season-defining clash with Ole Miss. Edge rusher Clev Lubin and running back Isaac Brown headline Louisville’s postseason hopes, while SMU’s rugged schedule and Rhett Lashley’s winning pedigree keep them firmly in the hunt. Dark horse contenders including Georgia Tech, Cal, and NC State enter the conversation with intriguing playoff scenarios built on Power 4-heavy schedules, relentless ground games, and star quarterbacks like JKS. The Clemson Tigers’ path hinges on splitting matchups with LSU and Miami, overcoming depth concerns, and solving lingering quarterback battles. Which ACC teams have the roster, schedule, and coaching edge to crash the CFP this fall? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! KALSHI For a limited time, Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10. . The Game Don't miss this chance to celebrate 40 years of The Game with 40% off your entire order. Visit https://TheGameCaps.com and use promo code LOCKEDON at checkout. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With the ACC earned two spots into the college football playoff later this fall, we'll tell you right here on Locked on ACC. You are Locked on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome into another edition of the Locked on ACC podcast. I'm Julian Counsel, and he is former NC State Football Letterman, Kenton Gibbs. And today's episode of Lockdown ACC is brought to you by Fandle. Join all the action at fandle.com to play daily dingers and make your free pick on who's hitting a homer this MLB season.

Back to talking season after yesterday, we talked about all the college basketball news happening in this conference. Today, let's try to figure out whether the ACC can be a two-bid league. I have eight teams can't and that I'm looking at. I have three that are primary contenders, three that are dark horses, two that are big brand names that maybe have a little bit of a leeway to it in potentially because of their brand names. And honestly, I don't trust a committee to take a team that isn't a brand at 10 and 2 from this conference, but there may be one. So I want to get your perspective on all eight of those teams and where the ACC can be a two-bid league.

Let's start off with the primary contenders who are obviously Miami, SMU, and Louisville. Now, the case for Miami, we don't really need to spend a lot of time with them. They have the best roster in the ACC, one of the best rosters in the entire country. this should be the year they finally win the conference in their 22nd year of being a member. And if you really look at it, they have a two-game season. And arguing, if you could argue that they only have a one game season, they play at Clemson on October 3rd, and they play at Notre Dame, November 7th. They win just, I mean, they beat Notre Dame.

I think they're probably going in. I mean, they get to 11 and 1. They win the ACC, obviously, they're in. I feel like Miami very clearly is going to be a playoff team this season. Don't let Mario Cristobal hear you saying that. Don't let him hear you saying that he will. tell you it is disrespectful to football that you said such thing. By the way, that's an actual statement that Mario Cristobal said to a reporter who asked him is important to get in the

young guys and the super backups when you're playing fam you in your yearly matchup. He said that question is disrespectful to football. So I say all that to say, you're absolutely right, Julian. You're talking about the best team on paper with the best quarterback and not just the best quarterback because some people would say, well, It's a first year transfer. Ken, I thought you didn't like first year transfers. I don't. I don't. Not in the quarterback position. It's not where I'm the most fond. But he bought his blankie with him.

He bought his blankie. Every quarterback has one, right? My guy, C.J. Bailey, his blankie for years was one Justin Jolie. Shout to him with the Broncos. I know he's going to be great. But every quarterback has their guy that they're like, if I'm in the gym, if it's getting dicey back here, I can look for my guy and I know he'll get open. and he bought Cooper Barquee with him.

That's adding to Malacotone. Come on, man. Come on. And then you got Mark Fletcher who decided to just get better and better in the playoffs. This is a team that is primed for some prime time success. The only, and when I say only, I mean the sole question for Miami is how does that offensive line jail early? And after you get past that, I mean, everything else on paper has an answer. Yeah.

And I think you look at the schedule, the only potential landmines is I think they're going to be up for the Notre Dame game. Obviously, Clemson, we don't know what they're going to look like this season. That potentially could be a difficult contest for them at Davo. Indeed has these guys back to being what they were. But you look at home against Florida State, that's an FSU team who at that point in time, we have no idea where they're at and their motivation behind Mike Norville, October 24th at home against Pitt. And then November 28th versus Virginia Tech. All three of those games are in Miami.

I mean, now it's not been the greatest home field of bands. We're all aware of that being so far away from campus, not being at the Orange Bowl anymore. So I really don't see a ton of landmines, a lot of obstacles on that schedule. SMU, that's the next team I'm looking at. The big games to me are at FSU on Labor Day Night, at Louisville in Week 3, Home Against Virginia,

home against Cal, home against Virginia Tech. And of course, on the road at Notre Dame in late November, if they go 11 and 1 with the loan loss to Notre Dame, feel like that should be enough. I don't think they can lose to Florida State because we have no idea what these Seminoles are going to do the rest of the year. I mean, if they beat Notre Dame,

they could afford to lose to a Louisville. I think it really, you're trying to avoid also that bad loss. I feel like the FSU game is one of the most important games on their schedule, followed by, of course, the game against at Louisville and then at Notre Dame later on this season. How do you feel about SMU and their chances? I think SMU has a great chance. Red Lashley has done nothing.

He, as a coach, come out to the song, all I do is win. Because him as a head coach, that's been his history. That's been his history. Last year was his worst year as a head coach so far. And what was that? Oh, I'm just one drive away from my fourth conference championship appearance in a row. Yeah.

Not being at Calaway from being in the ACC title game. GZ didn't even win tripper in a year that many to actually know. That's the exact amount of times he wanted. If you know, you know. Here's the deal. The reality is what Rhett Lashley and this team have done is special, but you talk about a special quarterback to Kevin Jenner. You talk about a special offensive lineman or a special offensive line with two guys that are all a conference, one of whom who is an All-American and PJ Williams. Words are hard this morning. Bear with me, everybody.

You're looking at an offense that can get it done at a high clip with a commander that is one of the best and not just the ACC, but I think the nation. Defensively, they're bringing back a lot. They did lose some. But again, with Brett Leslie's pedigree, with this team's temperament and the way that they just, they're so scrappy. They just fine ways time after time after time again, I think they'll be just fine. And the way that they act in that portal every year, the way that they go get dudes every single year, you can never count them out. So with their schedule, their talent, their quarterback, their coach, them going to the playoffs shouldn't shock anybody. No, and you get Virginia Cal and Virginia Tech at home.

Those are all three games. I think they should win there in Dallas. And it's really at Notre Dame. It's going to be a toughest game of the season. And their depth will certainly be questioned late in that year at FSU. We have no idea what we expect, just knowing that it's the first game of the season. We expect that Kevin Jennings will ball out and that that team will be ready to go. And at Louisville will be a tough game.

Speaking of Louisville, that's the other team I'm looking at as a primary contender to potentially help the ACC be a two-bid league. And one of the things for them is they have that marquee non-conference matchup, much like Miami has, much like SMU has, but this one is one that they agreed upon. It's not the ACC's agreement with Notre Dame. It's Louisville's agreement with Ole Miss on that Sunday night, Labor Day weekend there in Nashville. That one is massive. If they win that game, they're going to immediately vault into the top 10 of the AP poll for whatever that's worth. And people are going to talk about Louisville being a college ball playoff contender with all the hype there is surrounding Trinidad, Chambers as a

potential Heisman trophy winner and all that they have there, Q1 Lacey and Ole Miss. Like that's going to be a good football team. They also have SMU, of course, at home, at State can be a tough one, home against Florida State, at Georgia Tech, home against Pitt, and then at Kentucky. I mean, it feels like to me, if they lose Ole Miss, you got to beat SMU. Of course, you cannot lose Florida State. And you can't lose Kentucky. Like, they may have to go 11 and 1.

I don't know if 10 and 2 is going to be enough for the Cardinals. Hey, listen to me. If you're listening to this, Coach Brown, wherever you hear the sign of my voice, put Isaac Brown in some bubble wrap. You understand? He is no contact for the rest of fall camp. He is just maybe a little thud here and there.

Maybe, maybe. And I'm being aggressive with that. If the scrimmage is live, he ain't playing. You understand? He is the key to this. In a 26, where it's all about quarterback playing, And we know what the Browns do in terms of developing quarterbacks. Lincoln Keenholz is going to need that run game to be effective and efficient to get it done.

That's just the reality. I like Isaac Brown's backup. I think he's a good player and he shows some things last year. I don't think that he's good enough to overcome, hey, this guy who was gimp and hobbled last year and went over six yards per carry, he's gone now. He's hurt now. He can't play. That's their biggest thing. You got to keep Isaac Brown safe.

And their biggest question is how good is Lincoln Keynotes actually? Because defensively, let me tell you something, they got Clem of Lovin over there. That boy got out of an Army commitment to transfer to them and play football. Do you know how hard that is? Do you know how hard? It's a reason we never see transfers from the service academies. It's a reason.

And Claibluven has been terrorizing everybody off the edge at Louisville. He deserves the love. and respect and all the hype that he gets, I don't know where they keep finding these edge rushers at, right? First of those Ashton Jolati, now there's him. If my son was an edge rusher, I can't think of no better school to send him two at this point. I mean, for crying out a lot,

he just gets it done at a high clip. But with that being said, again, this team has to keep Isaac Brown upright and healthy. He is the key of this whole deal, in my opinion. But again, they're another team. Would I be shocked? No. Would I be surprised?

No. Would I be like, all right now, Louisville. I thought you had it in you, but I thought you were going to have that one or two games a year where Brom and his boys forget how to play football and you staved at all. I love that for y'all. The Cardinals are a heck of a team. I would not, again, I wouldn't be shocked, but I'd be pleasantly happy with they finally got it done and getting in the playoff.

I firmly believe that D-Lines win, and you look at what they have in Cleve Lubin, A.J. Green, Tyler Thompson, that end. rush is going to be something that week one, Ole Miss breaking in two new tackles. That will be an interesting match. I think SMU can block them. We'll see if state truly can block them. FSU have no idea there, Georgia Tech, probably going to be fine. Kentucky, they outlantern on $3 million, so they better be able to block him.

Pitt also should have a pretty solid offensive line. So that will be really a big difference maker for them this upcoming season, that pass rush. And, of course, what Lincoln Keenholz is able to do. But he has plenty of talent around him and some questions there on the offensive line. but I do trust in Jeff Brom to have this team in contention. So Miami-SmU, Louisville, those are the primary contenders I'm looking at to be the two or three teams.

I don't know if they get three, but to be the two teams to get into the playoff this fall. We're not going to go overboard and say three, but two, I think every year this league should have minimum or maybe even maximum should have two teams in. Like, I don't think you should have less than two, maybe not going to get more than two, the way things are currently constructed with the 12-team playoff

and all the politics with the SEC and the Big Ten. But two teams every year, that should be what the ACC has. And if you want to believe, because I don't know if I can do it. Virginia wins that game last year. Miami did get in as an at large. Do they let Miami still in?

I don't know, but I'm going to try to believe that Virginia and Miami we're about to be two teams in the ACC last year had the Wahoo's won that game and overtime back in Charlotte in December. So those are the primary contenders. What about the dark horses? I have three of them.

And bear with me. Just hear me out. Let's talk about that here in just a moment on Locked-on ACC. Baseball fans, if you think you know who's hitting a homer today, Fandle is giving you a free chance to call your shot with Daily Dingers. It's easy to play. Just make your free pick for who you think will hit a home run in their game. If you're right, you'll receive a profit boost to using your next bet for a chance at extra winnings. Best of all, you can make a free pick every day throughout the MLB season.

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Join the action at fandle.com. That's fandle.com to play daily dingers and make your free pick on who's hitting a homer. Play ball and swing for the fences on Fandle, an official partner of the MLB. Back here on locked on ACC, trying to figure out whether the ACC can be a two-bid league. They were year one with SMU getting in over Alabama. Thankfully, do not take a nine and three SEC team guys. They did not do that. They have not done that. And the SEC's not happy about it. But too

bad. Don't lose three games. Don't lose to a four and eight Florida team, Texas. And don't tell me, oh, we're going to play Ohio State. Maybe beat Ohio State. Don't want to hear it. All the whining coming from that conference is just nauseating. But the ACCC had to. And yeah, Clemson, they lost Texas and SMU, Kevin Jennings. It was embarrassing and Happy Valley. But they still got to last Virginia wins that game. Maybe they get two in, but Miami held the flag for the ACC and was right there had a chance to win in their hometown and an addy before Indiana of all teams, won the national championship. So we talked about the main contenders. What about the dark horses? I have three of them and just just hear me out, y'all. Georgia Tech, Cal and your NC State Wolfpack. Let's start off with Georgia Tech. Yes, they lost Hayden's King. Yes, they lost all their receivers. Yes, they lost Keel and Rutledge. There's a lot of questions, especially the secondary. What they lost? lost there. I totally understand. But I think that Brent Key has built a strong foundation, did pretty well in the portal, and they have an identity. And they also have a schedule to where

if they go 10 and 2, there's a really good case that Georgia Tech should be in the college football playoff. They are going to play 11 power 4 teams. Now, Boston College, Colorado, that's a stretch for P4 because I think both of those teams are going to be awful this year. I think they're going to beat the breaks off of the Buffaloes on that Thursday night, Labor Day weekend. But they get Tennessee at home. They, of course, play at Georgia. They're always going to have a tough schedule. They have at Virginia Tech. They have at Pitt. They have home against Louisville at Clemson. I think they need to beat Colorado, of course, find a way to split with Tennessee and Georgia, preferably, preferably, beat Georgia. And then the losses outside of that have to either come at Clemson or home

against Louisville, and they probably have enough good wins, whether it's a combination of having beaten Tennessee and Clemson or Tennessee and Louisville or Georgia in Clemson or Georgia in Louisville, like 10 and 2, I think that gets them in. I strongly agree. I strongly agree that 10 and 2 gets them in. I don't see 10 and 2 in their path. You're completely rebuilding the passing game altogether. I love me some Brett Kee.

I love me some Branky. Everybody knows when you asked me who won me. of days every year, I have to say with the exception of Brent Key, because he just, he gets it done year in and year out. He steps up to that podium and knocks out of the park, year in, year out. But not only that, he's clearly a man who lives the talk that he talks. He lives the songs that he sings and his teams take on his persona. They take on his image. He said last year, you know, or I believe it was two years ago, nobody here is happy about us winning our last X amount of games out of eight.

I believe they went four and four down the stretch. And I said, that's the most wins that coaches had here in an entire season since Paul Johnson left. Like, how do you build on that? And he's like, I ain't done nothing to build on in a positive manner. We need to build this thing from the ground up because we're still not ready yet. I love coach key. That backfield, you name it. They got backs on backs on backs.

They just got dudes who can go. You understand? They're going to strike some fear in some guys because they, No, it's going to be a real physical ball game. They may run the ball 50 times. What about it? But therein lies the problem. They may have to run the ball 50 times,

and that's not so what about it if you are in offense. It's going to wear you down over time. And not only are you rebuilding the passing game, that defense last year, P you! Oh, my God, it was so bad. It was atrocious down the stretch. They start off the season and reaching top 10 status. And what do they do after they went top 10, Julie?

They fell apart down a stretch defensively. Fell apart. Every game. People was putting 40 on their head back to back to back to back to back. You can't live like that. You can't live like that. And don't get me wrong, I do think the defense will be improved this year. But I'm not sure you can replace Haynes King production and get the defense to be good enough

to get you to 11, 10 or 11 wins with this schedule, I love me some break key. If you did, this would be a pleasant surprise. I would be a little bit more shocked here, but I would be like, you know what? Hey, more prior to you, Key, ACC, you got a problem for life because I believe he's a Georgia, Georgia Tech,

life or rather. Yeah, and my thing is I'm looking at the schedule and I'm making the case if they get the 10 and 2. I don't necessarily believe that's going to happen, but that's why they're in a dark horse category because I do like what they've done. I like what Brent Key has established there, and it's a possibility.

They're going to have to play on their terms, the way that they're currently constructing what we don't know about Alberto Mendoza. It certainly is possible that that passing attack is really good this year, and they're completely balanced offensively, and what Jason Seymour back as DC, that they figure things out defensively. It's certainly possible.

But if they get 10 and 2, they're going to have a great argument to be in the playoff. off. What about Cal? Can JKS carry the Cow Bears? Now, they're another team that has a marquee non-conference game week one. They play home against UCLA. I have no idea how good UCLA is going to be this upcoming season, but they're still my big 10 team, I guess, but they have the key stretch late in the season where they're at SMU, they're at state, they're at Virginia. The game I think they would have to win is at SMU. They could lose in Raleigh, regroup, go back cross-country, beat Virginia.

And other than that, it's home against Pitt. It's home against Stanford. It's home against Stamford. It's home against Wrigan Tech. Four games they could certainly win at UNLV. They should win that game, certainly. And I think it's Jackson Arnold's, me, the starting quarterback there. He can't play.

Home against Clemson, like at Syracuse. Like, they have a schedule that can be manageable, especially the home games. It's just that one key road stretch. And if they get to 11 and 1 with the one against Clemson, with the one against UCLA, and that loss is either at state or at Virginia, and they get the SMU game. I mean, 11.1 Cal, they're right there in it. Now, can they get there? But with that scenario, I feel like they're in it.

And they have JKS, arguably the best quarterback in the country. I'm not saying he is. I'm just saying he's one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He throws one of the prettiest balls in the country. He has some of the most zip on that thing. I mean, that ball is coming out with some mustard. Now, I wouldn't be surprised to find out his receivers are wearing two pairs of gloves. And they have one of the most exciting coaches in the nation.

The only problem is we're talking a year one head coach. And by year one head coach, I don't mean year one here. First time being a head coach ever and ever, ever and ever, ever being a head coach. That is, I love me some Tosh Lapoor. I've talked about what he's done on the recruiting trail. I've talked about how well they're doing out there. And I truly believe that in a couple of years, they're going to be here. But I've got a couple of questions.

I've got a couple questions for Cal. Who's going to be your Y-Receiver 1? Who's going to be? Ian Strong. Okay. And you believe that Ian Strong is the type of Y-Rceiver one you can get to the playoff with. If you don't have a defense that is also like, hey, they're like that. These guys are.

And again, Tosh Laporte did a heck of a job in the portal. So I'm not saying that there's nothing. I'm just saying, I don't know. they're good enough defensively and depth-wise to overcome first-time head coach. And although JKS has a rocket launcher attached to his left arm, sometimes the computing up there, sometimes the processing of what's happening, it doesn't necessarily match up. And so you combine all those factors. That one to me, that one, that goes a bit beyond pleasantly surprised me.

And I love the algorithm. Lord knows I love me to Calgar rhythm. So there would be few people as excited as me outside of Berkeley to see them go all the way next year. But with that being said, I would be legitimately like, My Lanta, this is this, anything is possible, ACC. Anything is possible because Cal got there year one with Coach Toslopold. But again, again, I just think I have a few too many questions for this team. Yeah, and look, year one, Indiana under Kurtzignati. And I know that's going to break everybody's brain.

And I'm not necessarily trying to make that argument. My thing is you have an established quarterback who is crazy talented. You have a coach and toss a boy. You look at defensively. It's not like he's bringing kids from Akron and from like New Mexico and all of that. He's bringing kids who are at power programs, who are blue chip recruits, who have the body type, who have the athleticism. So I can buy in to toss the poy, being able to cobble together a good enough defense,

like a top 50, 55 range defense, middle of college football defense, to pair of an offense with a prolific quarterback, Adam Muhammad at running back, Cooper Perry, Chase Hendricks, also Ian Strong, two really good Titans and Mason Minnie and Dorian Strong, and that they could potentially be a team that actually makes it run. Because everyone come to the West Coast, I could see them really be able to do do that. So as far as like that's, I'm not saying that's going to happen or that's I believe, but that is the argument that's you can make. And I'm trying to make here for Cal. I see you. I see you. But for every team, but for every team that has to see, I'm seeing your vision,

but it's like that so raving. You remember when she used to get those visions, it was a little bit blurry. It was a little bit blurs. I'm seeing you. It's just, it may not be clear right now. Because for every team that has to go over to Cal and some witchy magic happens, Cal also has to travel across the damn country all of the time, all the time. Every time you look up, their frequent flyer miles are going to be through the roof. And so I- Four times, only four times this year at Syracuse, at SMU, which is not even cross-country. So really three at Syracuse, at state, at Virginia.

And again, I hear you. I hear you. And again, Tos Lippoy did a great job in the portal. He's doing a great job on a high school recruiting trail. I'm just not sure that in year one, you, can tell, I can tell you with confidence, I believe that he'll do it. But with that being said, with that being said, I would be very pleasantly surprised by this. That is a team that if they did it, well, I'll be damn. Anything is possible. Let's get us some algorithm in the playoff, baby.

I would love to see it. But yeah, look, it's a fun exercise. Everyone out thinks I know I'm probably getting absolutely torched right now for all that I'm saying. It is August 13th. It's talking season. we're just putting up scenarios of how a team could get in. I'm not making a scenario for North Carolina, guys. I'm not making a scenario for Boston College. These are teams that we actually think could be pretty solid. And if things break right for them, who knows? They're in a college football playoff.

What about NC State? What about Clemson? We'll finish show by talking about them here in just a few moments on Locked-on ACC. Since 1986, the game has been creating classic college hats that fans are proud to wear. Whether you're an alumnus, current student-season ticket holder, simply someone who never misses a game. A great college hat is more than just apparel. It's a way to represent your school wherever you go.

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The other team I'd wrote down with Florida State, I don't think that's going to have. happen, but they do have a schedule, much like Georgia Tech, where they go 10 and 2, they can get in. They have SMU at home and Labor Day Night. They're at Bama. I'm not particularly high on Bama, but it's still Alabama. They have Virginia at home at Louisville, at Miami, home against Clemson night. That's the real stretch. And of course, Florida to end the season. So there's enough quality teams on that schedule where as long as they don't lose central Arkansas in Boston College and have that being an anchor to them, the Knowles could do it. Will they do it? Will they do highly unlikely. So let's make the case for NC State, which is kind of crazy to think,

oh, FSU, no way. NC State may be the schedule. We heard about the schedule back in 23 with Louisville and they made to the ACC title game. We heard about the schedule in 24 with SMU. They made to the ACC title game and it calls up a playoff. And now NC State, year 14, Dave Doran has a quarterback, maybe has a roster good enough to take over this schedule. They don't have a marquee non-conference game. That's the one thing at Vanderbilt, all due respect to them. Pavi is not there. We'll see what Jared Curtis, the number one quarterback crew can do in Nashville. But yeah, Vandy, that's a game. Obviously, you have to have, if your state, you can't lose

the Richmond, you can't lose the app. Lord knows you cannot lose the app state, especially you want to go to work the next day. You can't let that happen. Been through it with Carolina, state fans. I'm praying for y'all in that game rolls around. Not really. 11 and 1 and nothing less feels like what it's got to be. And the losses would have to come either at Virginia or home against Cal. I can't see any other loss being excusable for this team this upcoming season if they want to be at 11-1. And if they go to the ACC title game, they lose that game, be like SMU and sneak in 11-2.

Because I just don't think the strength of schedule is necessarily there. And they need that win against Louisville. See, I'm glad that Julian didn't tell me who the teams were in pre-production, because if he would have told me Florida State, I would have called up David Locker myself and said, let's start drug testing these homes. Okay? I know me and Julie about the same edge. He strikes me as a guy. We got similar tasted music. When Gucci Man said, I finesse the plug, I got extra drugs.

It meant to distribute them, not use them. Okay? He wasn't using that copious amount. But I'm glad to know that you didn't include him. So now we don't got to get you tested. But NC State, the schedule is there, quarterbacking year three. You got a running back that did a hell of a job filling in for Hollywood Smothers last year. The wide receiver core is rebuilt. Obviously, you know, it was a mad dash on receivers getting out of state in terms of Terrell Anderson going to USC,

Noah Rogers going to Alabama, Teddy Hoffman going to PEDs and getting suspended. You know, it was a mad dash. That's just the reality. It's unfortunate, but it is what it is. But the defense should be improved. They were playing guys out of position terribly last year. We had an edge rusher at Will linebacker and Lord knows, you know, know, if you watch the young man try to move backwards or laterally, you saw the problems right

away. But, you know, this team, I see the vision of them, but I think the hype train is coming all at the same time. Nobody was talking about the underover for states wins to start the offseason, six and a half ball games, six and a half. And now all of a sudden, David Pollack starts off. I think this team can get 10. then Tom Lugan Bill, this team can get 10.

Then Mark Rick, I agree with you. I can see 10. Now we got none other than Julian counsel said, this team can do it. They can get there behind CJ Bailey's arm. I don't think that you're wrong. I would just say this hype train over the past three weeks, I don't know what the hell has happened.

But everybody said, we can all see it. The schedule is Charmin Salt. In terms of true road games, where you're going to a state that does not share, a border with North Carolina, I believe they only have one game like that, and I believe that's Florida State.

I could be wrong there, but I believe it's just Florida State. With that being said, they still got to show them proof. They still got to show them prove. Doran has been the greatest beneficiary of rivalry week being the last week of the season because he gets to beat up on the old

the North Carolina Tar Heels. I'm being nice today. He gets to beat up on those guys at the end of the year and, you know, goes into a bowl game, does whatever he does. But I'm telling you, there's a world where they win 10. There's a world where they win 11. I'm not sure if I commit to it.

But if NC State were to make the playoff this year, not only would I be pleasantly surprised, Julian will have to do all those post games by itself because I'll be drunk with a old. You understand? I'll be drunk. I'll be out there. The Hennessy will be flow.

Oh, never mind. They ain't one of our sponsor. The drink will be flowing, and it'll be flowing directly to me. I am simply laying out the path for how State can get there. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but this is the path for the wolf back in. Yeah,

I mean, the last time they had, I think legit playoff hype would have been with that 17 or 18 season back when Bradley Chubble was still there, Justin Jones, B.J. Hill. They had the defensive line. Larry delivers.

Yeah. And Cole Kublich, he was on ESPN. He was the only one I saw at State in his playoff that season. And it went out there in last week one to South Carolina. So hopefully, for your sake and all the sake of folks there in Raleigh, and throughout the U.S. and the world,

the Wolfpack did not have to Charlottesville and lose week one. And everyone's saying, here we go again, with State, Lucy, the football, Dave can't get it done. But this is the way for Dave to get it done. No marquee, non-conference game. Got to go 11 to 1. You can either lose a Cal or at Virginia, but you need to beat Louisville.

You got to beat Vandy. And that is a path for state this year. Clemson, we'll finish off with the Tigers, all reliable. Davo. All right, man. They got to split with LSU and with Miami. I think the only excusable losses for Clemson is at Cal week four gut check on a Friday night in Berkeley, home against Georgia Tech. You can't lose a Florida State, but TBD on what they end up being. Can't lose South Tron at home for a third straight time. Like that one cannot happen. You think back a couple years ago when Clemson was nine and two, they had lost to a little bit. Louisville, they had lost to Georgia to start off the season. And the playoff committee had them ranked 12. They were still in position, potentially, get into the playoff with a win against a 15th ranked South Carolina.

I don't think the South Carolina team this year is going to be Frank 15th come November 28th. So you better damn well beat LSU or beat Miami. And then other than that, maybe you can lose two because you are Clemson, but I don't know if the committee, I don't know college football in its own right is giving you the benefit of the doubt. like they were a couple of years ago. So it might have to be 11 and 1 for the Tigers with a split against LSU, Miami, and only lose into a cowl or a Georgia Tech, maybe even a Virginia Tech at home. Let me tell you something.

Tyler from Spartanburg and have the state of South Carolina be howling at the moon like Muddy Waters. If this team was to be able to get in to the playoff. If you don't know who Muddy Waters is, Google them. You'll find out some real good music today. But now I look at this team, and I say not only is this schedule difficult, you got quarterback issues, man. Why are we still talking about who's your starting quarterback going in the camp?

When one guy's been on campus for three years, and you know what? A lot of Clemson fans say, I'm milking that. I'm overdoing, overplaying up the quarterback thing. Okay, fine. Who the hell are your defensive tackles, man?

Who are your big fellas that's going to clog it up in the middle? I love me some will help. I think he's a bad, bro. I think he's one of the badest dudes in the ACC in terms of the defensive line, bar none. bar none. Who's going to be not only his running mate, but his big fellas in the middle?

Every defensive end needs a good defensive tackle that's going to press the pocket, draw those double teams, make it just a little bit easier on them on the edge. You know, Will Held led the team in Sachs last year, despite the fact that they had two guys that were projected going the first round on that team. This is a group that I think they're good.

I think they top in talent. I think they're going to be good. The problem is, lack of portaling equals the lack of depth. And if that happens, how do you make it through those really tough games? Because we're accustomed to seeing teams wear down later in the season because they don't have depth. But we saw with Clemson, it was late in games early in the season where your starting defensive linemen cannot play 60 snaps a game. That's not realistic in college football. You've got to get them guys some help.

So I'm interested. I'm intrigued by Clemson outside of the quarterback position. And I know Gideon is supposed to be the next coming at running back. And so we'll see how that works out. But I just struggle to see that this is another one. The vision is there. Proof of concept for Clems to be successful is there. Daubold is a heck of a coach, national championship winner,

multiple time national championship winner. Apologies. And, you know, ran the ACC for damn there. decade it seemed like. I'm not sure if you still got the magic touch. Yeah, I think the key for them, be four and one going to that biweek. You have LSU on the road. You have home against Georgia, southern, home against North Carolina.

So that's two biweeks, basically. You're at Cal and then you're home against Miami. Like, if you're four and one, and that one is against Cal, so you mean you beat LSU and you beat Miami, then, yeah, 10 and 2 is probably going to be good enough for you. You can trip up down the stretch because you have two of the best wins in college football. if Miami and LSU end up being what we think they're going to be this season. But I think 11 and 1 probably more realistic for Clemson,

at least as far as the path that they're going to need to take, because I don't know if they're going to win at LSU and then hold serve at home against Miami. And then after that, if you're 4 and 1, I mean, Charleston Southern, Virginia Tech, Florida State on the road at Syracuse, I'm against Georgia Tech, at Duke, home against South Carolina. I like that.

There's going to be a lot of momentum for the Tigers down the stretch. So Davo said that right now, no jobs are won. They got a bunch of nobodies. Everyone's to have to go out there and earn it. We'll see if that works. They do have a big scrimmage this weekend, and we'll get some intel on that on Monday when we talk about Christopher Vizina and also about Tate Reynolds, who is trying to take over that quarterback spot as a true freshman. But that is the case for 187, really, in the ACC to potentially make the college football playoff. I think this could be a two-bed league, probably banking on Miami, SMU and Louisville, but maybe one of those dark horses or old, reliable Clemson finds a way to get into the CFP later on this fall.

that's going to wrap up this edition of the Lockdown ACC podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. We're your host, as always, Julian Council and Kenton Gibbs again, subscribe and follow the show for free over on YouTube and wherever you listen to your favorite podcast. And be sure to follow us over on the socials at Julian Council and at TGIF underscore Kenton. And in the meantime, be safe, be happy, be whole. And we'll talk to y'all on Friday here on Lockdown ACCC.