1. Georgia Tech

What You Need To Know About The Offense: QB Justin Thomas was a revelation in 2014, piloting the offense to unexpected heights. But can he duplicate his debut without the help of so many key contributors from a year ago? Tech led the ACC in a bunch of categories, including scoring and overall efficiency. However, from that 38-point-a-game attack, not a single key skill position player returns. And possible heirs, such as B-backs C.J. Leggett and Quaide Weimerskirch, suffered serious spring injuries. The Yellow Jackets will dispatch APBs for capable runners, which means an early opportunity for true freshmen and Stanford transfer Patrick Skov to contribute. Veteran backs Broderick Snoddy, Dennis Andrews and Marcus Allen can at least take solace in the return of four starting linemen from 2014. All-star G Shaq Mason will be tough to replace, and April’s season-ending injury to Chris Griffin smarts, but Tech will again be stout at the point of attack. Close attention will be given to the weight of 365-pound sophomore G Shamire Devine, who has starter potential if his conditioning improves before August.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: Up. Then down. Tech can’t seem to locate defensive consistency for coordinator Ted Roof. But after playing soft and ineffectively a year ago, the Yellow Jackets believe the pendulum is about to shift in a more positive direction. The 2014 squad lost badly at the line of scrimmage, resulting in just 20 sacks and one of the highest yards per play in the FBS. Even a secondary with individual talent became overmatched by the lack of support. However, Tech promises to be much stronger at the line of scrimmage in 2015, which will have a ripple effect on the back seven. Jabari Hunt-Days is expected back from academic suspension, teaming with Adam Gotsis to give punch from the inside. Plus, Freshman All-American DE KeShun Freeman is bigger and wiser, and transfer DE Kenderius Whitehead is ready to contribute. If the D-line plays up to its ability, ball-hawking defensive backs D.J. White, Jamal Golden and Chris Milton will be the beneficiaries on errant and forced throws. For all of its problems last year, the Jacket D excelled at creating turnovers and short fields.

2. Pitt

What you need to know on offense: New coordinator Jim Chaney has pretty much seen it all the past two decades, so he’s equipped to adapt to the talent he inherits. At Pittsburgh, he has the building blocks of a diverse offense. Now, Chaney’s boss, Pat Narduzzi, clearly wants to establish the run. And why not, when James Conner is in the backfield and the O-line can move the pile? But the Panthers also want to maximize the skills of pro-ready WR Tyler Boyd and athletic QB Chad Voytik, who’s becoming increasingly comfortable in the new system. However, for Pitt to pick up where it left off last year, averaging 36 points over the final five games, the receiving corps and the right side of the line must be addressed. Boyd got zero support in 2014, which is why the spring performance of junior Dontez Ford was so encouraging. And the O-line must replace RG Matt Rotheram and RT T.J. Clemmings, who’ll both be on NFL rosters this fall. Young Jaryd Jones-Smith has taken a lead at tackle, while Alex Officer could displace one of the guards once starting C Artie Rowell returns from his knee rehabilitation. The Panthers want to build off 2014, their best in years as a blocking unit.

What you need to know on defense: Head coach Pat Narduzzi and his first coordinator at Pitt, Josh Conklin, have reputations for coaching up defenders. Good thing, too, because the Panthers didn’t produce a single All-ACC performer on this side of the ball in 2014. The 2015 edition will be light on playmakers as well, which is why the new staff is creatively looking for ways to spark a decrepit pass rush. Pitt can’t survive ranking 118th nationally in tackles for minus yards. Fortunately, the defensive backfield is competent enough to allow athletic outside linebackers Nicholas Grigsby and Bam Bradley to occasionally blitz. Corners Lafayette Pitts and Avonte Maddox show potential, and FS Reggie Mitchell is the unit’s most complete player. In the end, though, success will hinge on Narduzzi’s front four. Rori Blair is the most active end, but he needs to add weight to become a three-down player. And tackles Darryl Render, K.K. Mosley-Smith and Tyrique Jarrett, the spring MVP, must own the line of scrimmage like seasoned upperclassmen.

3. Miami

What you need to know about the offense: Coordinator James Coley has spent this offseason trying to fine-tune an offense that lacked efficiency and committed too many penalties in 2014. Sure, the Canes piled up the yards a year ago, but points were scarcer, a telltale sign of poor execution. Coley and his staff will be facing dueling realities this season. On the one hand, his franchise quarterback, Brad Kaaya, is a valuable year older and on the verge of becoming one of the nation’s better young passers. On the other, though, some of last season’s top skill position players are gone, and the O-line must gel this summer. The backfield tandem of Gus Edwards and Joseph Yearby is capable of offsetting the production of Duke Johnson, and backup QB Malik Rosier presents options as a change-of-pace. But the tight ends and wide receivers, like Stacy Coley and Rashawn Scott, must come together in support of the continued development of Kaaya. No assistants is facing a tougher job this offseason than line coach Art Kehoe, who’s replacing three starters, and banking on the healthy returns of two of his top tackles, Taylor Gadbois and Kc McDermott.

What you need to know about the defense: Credit goes where credit is due. And beleaguered coordinator Mark D’Onofrio is arguably coming off his best season with the Hurricanes. Miami improved in most statistical categories in 2014, while ranking 15th nationally in yards per play allowed. Still, D’Onofrio understands this is not the time to become content, and that there’s more work to be done. The biggest hole is at middle linebacker, where perennial all-star thumper Denzel Perryman is being supplanted by Raphael Kirby. The unit’s strength? A deep defensive backfield with a high ceiling. The greatest unknown? That would be a D-line that could hold the defense’s fate in its hands. Although there’s ample potential up front, it’s counterbalanced by precious few proven players. DT Ufomba Kamalu has leading man potential, while fingers are crossed that pass rushers Chad Thomas and Al-Quadin Muhammad can begin approaching their sizable potential. If the front is a factor, Miami is capable of matching last season’s defensive results.

4. Virginia Tech

What you need to know about the offense: Nothing encapsulates Virginia Tech’s current three-year slide better than the play of a dreadfully inconsistent offense. And since this also happens to be coordinator Scot Loeffler’s third season in charge of the feeble attack, he’ll be coaching for his life this fall. The Hokies have ranked 97th or lower in yards per play each year since 2012, the byproduct of sloppy quarterback play and ineffective blocking. Michael Brewer is in charge of changing the trend behind center, a second chance to prove he’s better than last year’s erratic Blacksburg debut. His protection remains a glaring question mark, though guards Wyatt Teller and Augie Conte should emerge into cornerstones on the interior. At the skill positions, Tech is more than adequate, as long as the blockers do their job. The best is ahead for sophomore wide receivers Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips. And TE Bucky Hodges will be used in different ways this fall, especially since Ryan Malleck can handle a more traditional tight end role. The backs are better than their numbers. J.C. Coleman is underrated, and Trey Edmunds and Marshawn Williams are big and physical backs, with ample upside when healthy.

What you need to know about the defense: The Hokies went with a lot of first-time starters in 2014, yet still finished Top 25 nationally in total defense, scoring D and sacks. Now that most of that unit is back, Tech plans on being impregnable in 2015. Bud Foster consistently does about as good a job as any defensive coordinator, rolling out an attacking unit that excels at getting pressure and locking down receivers. The pressure this fall will be relentless, with linemen Dadi Nicolas, Ken Ekanem, Luther Maddy, Nigel Williams and Corey Marshall all wreaking havoc in opposing backfields. That D-line, plus corners Kendall Fuller and Brandon Facyson, provided he’s healthy, is going to make it extremely difficult to complete passes on this team. Opponents can try running the ball on Tech, though Deon Clarke is a playmaker at ‘backer’, and Andrew Motuapuaka is an emerging star at middle linebacker. Safety is a weak spot, relatively speaking, though Chuck Clark can play anywhere, and second-year C.J. Reavis opened eyes this spring. Creativity and perseverance will be needed to solve this athletic, veteran Hokie defense this year.

5. North Carolina

What you need to know about the offense: After three years of becoming one with the up-tempo, no-huddle spread offense, the Tar Heels are finally ready to erupt to the liking of head coach Larry Fedora. Carolina returns all but its starting tight end from 2014, which means there are no excuses to not be among the ACC’s highest scoring attacks. All-ACC Second Team QB Marquise Williams will be surrounded by the same cast that averaged 33 points and 430 yards a game a year ago. The O-line, which took time to rebuild last fall, now brings back all five starters, including LT John Ferranto who’s been jumped on the depth chart by up-and-coming sophomore Bentley Spain. And the Heels are flush in options at running back and wide receiver. On the ground, T.J. Logan and Elijah Hood offer complementary styles, while all four receivers who caught 35 balls in 2014 remain in Chapel Hill. Senior Quinshad Davis is coming off his worst season with the program, though, and could form a dynamite outside tandem with Mack Hollins if he’s able to rebound to his underclassman form.

What you need to know about the defense: Carolina has a defensive problem the way California has a water problem. Enter Gene Chizik, the former national championship coach at Auburn and a hopeful rainmaker in Chapel Hill. After two years away from the sidelines, Chizik is refreshed and recharged, focusing on one side of the ball for the first time since 2006. And he’ll need all of his energy to tackle a D that was miserable in 2014, ranking 100th or lower in scoring, yards per carry and pass efficiency defense. Chizik has spent much of this offseason installing the 4-3, evaluating his new players and reeducating them on the basics and fundamentals of playing defense. Now, the Tar Heels are not without talented individuals derived from the past few recruiting classes. But it’s up to the newly-configured staff to maximize the potential of those young defenders. If Carolina even remotely resembles last year’s D, the program will be mired in mediocrity, regardless of what the offense accomplishes.

6. Virginia

What you need to know on offense: The Cavaliers produced their highest scoring average in nine years last season, yet no one, especially coordinator Steve Fairchild, is in the mood to celebrate. Offensive execution and potency have been perennial problems that have plagued this program long since before the current staff was hired. Fairchild plans to simplify his attack in 2015, employing a pro-style system that puts more emphasis on a power running game. Success, though, hinges on the health of a banged-up O-line and the emergence of former blue-chip RB Taquan Mizzell. If Mizzell and Daniel Hamm can keep the sticks moving, it’s going to make life much simpler for QB Matt Johns, who enticed chief competitor Greyson Lambert to transfer this past spring. Johns will access a pair of underrated senior receivers, budding Canaan Severin and Carolina transfer T.J. Thorpe. The ‘Hoos have also added Stanford transfer Charlie Hopkins to a tight end unit currently in the market for a front man.

What you need to know on defense: : Jon Tenuta’s attacking D was the strength of the program in 2014. However, maintaining that trend mandates rebuilding the fringes of the front seven. The Cavaliers were so oppressive last year because they were able to pounce off the edge, but the top three sackers, DE Eli Harold and linebackers Max Valles and Henry Coley, have departed. Virginia needs to fill that void with the likes of ends Mike Moore and Kwontie Moore, and outside linebackers Zach Bradshaw and Mark Hall. Fortunately, the team has no such problems up the middle or in the secondary. Rising MLB Micah Kiser and tackles David Brown, Andrew Brown and Donte Wilkins will stifle opponents running between the tackles. And the Quin Blanding-led defensive backfield is flush in talent. Oft-injured Demetrious Nicholson has finally rejoined Maurice Canady and Tim Harris at cornerback, and the emergence of Kelvin Rainey at strong safety has prevented the staff from having to tinker with the corners. If this team can develop a couple of steady edge rushers, the overall decline from 2014 will be minimal.

7. Duke

What you need to know about the offense: Scottie Montgomery is back for his second season as the offensive coordinator, aiming to keep Duke’s pro-style attack humming. The Blue Devils have averaged more than 30 points in each of the last three seasons, while becoming increasingly balanced behind an underrated offensive line. Remaining on the rails in 2015, though, hinges squarely on the development of first-time starting QB Thomas Sirk, Duke’s version of BYU bulldozer Taysom Hill. Sirk was a change-of-pace runner in short-yardage a year ago, but he now assumes the reins of an attack looking to replace record-setting WR Jamison Crowder, elite OG Laken Tomlinson and veteran LT Takoby Cofield. As the new wide receivers gradually emerge out of obscurity, the Devils would be wise to lean a little harder on the ground troops. Not only will Sirk’s skills be maximized, but last season’s top rushers, Shaquille Powell and the precocious Shaun Wilson, are back in the fold as well.

What you need to know about the defense: He’s an unknown outside of coaching circles, but coordinator Jim Knowles has done a fine job with the Blue Devil D. Without any household names, Duke allowed just 21 points per game in 2014. However, the unit is saddled with a nagging and routine problem, an inability to win the line of scrimmage. The shortcoming has allowed opponents to run right at the Blue Devils with impunity, daring them to mount a defense. Duke will again be vulnerable in the trenches and on the flanks after the graduation of three of last year’s starters. After DT Carlos Wray, there’s a ton of uncertainty and inexperience. The back seven, though, is an entirely different story. Former all-star LB Kelby Brown is back after missing last year to a knee injury, and the secondary is among the best in the league. All five starting defensive backs return, including All-ACC safeties Jeremy Cash and DeVon Edwards. Now, if Duke can only locate a consistent pass rush, throwing on this team will be a weekly nightmare.