COASTAL DIVISION
VIRGINIA TECH
Key players: QB Sean Glennon, Jr.; QB Tyrod Taylor, Soph.; DE Orion Martin, Sr.; CB Victor Harris, Sr. Returning starters: 6 offense, 4 defense.

Notes: QBs Glennon and Taylor both played huge roles last season, but Beamer isn't sold on a two-quarterback system, so one may have to emerge. ... Another trip to the title game is no lock, given this road schedule: The Hokies travel to North Carolina, Boston College, Florida State and Miami. They also play at Nebraska in a juicy nonconference game.

MIAMI
Key players: RB Graig Cooper, So.; LT Jason Fox, Jr.; LB Colin McCarthy, Jr.; DE Eric Moncur, Sr. Returning starters: 4 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: The Hurricanes have lacked go-to skill players in recent years, but with RBs Cooper and Javarris James both back and healthy, some pressure will be taken off whichever of Miami's three freshman QBs gets the call. ... Defensive line depth is a question.

NORTH CAROLINA
Key players: QB T.J. Yates, So.; WR Hakeem Nicks, Jr.; S Trimane Goddard, Sr.; S Deunta Williams, So. Returning starters: 9 offense, 8 defense.

Notes: Maybe the biggest enigma in the ACC, with almost all of last season's key players back. As such, Heels are the ACC's most popular sleeper pick. ... Heels went 4-8 last season, losing six of those games by a TD or less. ... Biggest hole to fill? Might be kicker, where Connor Barth excelled for four years.

GEORGIA TECH
Key players: OT Andrew Gardner, Sr.; RB Jonathon Dwyer, So.; DT Vance Walker, Sr.; DT Darryl Richard, Sr. Returning starters: 4 offense, 4 defense.

Notes: Paul Johnson's triple-option almost always works, yet he'll likely need more than one offseason to get it integrated at Tech. ... Both lines are strong and rank among league's best, so there's hope. ... ACC slate opens at Chestnut Hill and Blacksburg.

VIRGINIA
Key players: TB Cedric Peerman, Sr.; Mikell Simpson, Jr.; LB Clint Sintim, Sr.; LB Jon Copper, Sr. Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense.

Notes: Sintim and Copper lead one of league's best LB corps. ... Cavs coming off best season since 2002, and open against Southern California. ... Passing game the biggest question, so running backs will absolutely have to set the tone.

DUKE
Key players: QB Thaddeus Lewis, Jr.; WR Eron Riley, Sr.; DT Vince Oghobaase, Jr. Returning starters: 7 offense, 10 defense.

Notes: New coach David Cutcliffe has 51 returnees, including Lewis, who has folks in Durham believing the best QB on campus isn't hoops point guard Greg Paulus — a high school star in Syracuse. ... Riley is a big-play threat, but Cutcliffe will need more than one offseason to turn Duke around.