The ACC has long embodied the chaotic nature of college football. Just last season, Duke and Virginia made it to the ACC Championship Game after being picked 6th and 14th in the 2025 preseason poll. What does 2026 have in store? Miami was the preseason poll's run-away favorite with SMU and Louisville lurking.

In this episode of the Preferred Walk-Ons Podcast, the hosts share their most outlandish and contrarian predictions for what will happen with ACC football this fall.

  • Elevating rivalry trash talk on social media (0:00-8:51)
  • ACC headlines from fall camps including an update to UVA's Kam Robinson (8:51-23:44)
  • A problematic report from the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee (23:44-30:03)
  • Our spiciest takes and predictions for the 2026 ACC football season (30:03-57:40)
TheSabre.com presents The Preferred Walk-Ons Podcast, a college sports podcast through the lens of the ACC. Michael McGraw, a University of Virginia graduate and fan, and Michael Shutt, a life-long NC State fan, both grew up watching the ACC and have insights on the history and present of the conference.

You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!