Where every ACC program lands in ESPN's strength of schedule rankings

[ASFN Admin]

The road through the ACC won't be the same for every contender in 2026. With kickoff still weeks away, ESPN's Football Power Index has released its preseason strength of schedule rankings, providing an early snapshot of which programs are expected to navigate the toughest paths this fall. While the SEC once again dominates the top of the national rankings, several ACC teams are also in line for challenging slates, including the Florida State Seminoles.

The Seminoles check in with the 22nd-toughest schedule in the country, the highest among ACC programs. Mike Norvell's team opens conference play against the SMU Mustangs before traveling to Alabama and later faces Clemson, Miami and Florida as part of a challenging slate. The ACC announced earlier this year that Florida State is one of five conference teams playing eight league games in 2026 because of multiple Power Four nonconference matchups.

Here's where every ACC football program ranks in ESPN's preseason 2026 strength of schedule rankings:

2026 college football ACC strength of schedule rankings​

SOS Ranking	ACC School
No. 22	FSU
No. 24	Boston College
No. 27	Stanford
No. 29	North Carolina
No. 32	Georgia Tech
No. 35	Clemson
No. 41	Syracuse
No. 43	Virginia Tech
No. 45	Miami
No. 46	Duke
No. 50	Wake Forest
No. 51	SMU
No. 54	Pitt
No. 58	Louisville
No. 61	California
No. 65	Virginia
No. 66	NC State

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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Where every ACC program lands in ESPN's strength of schedule rankings

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