**Miami enters the 2026 ACC football season as the clear frontrunner to reach the December 5 championship game in Charlotte, backed by a deep roster, transfer additions like quarterback Darian Mensah, and momentum from its 2025 College Football Playoff national title game appearance.** Preseason media polls and betting markets reflect this consensus, with the Hurricanes receiving the vast majority of first-place votes and listed as heavy favorites to win the conference outright. SMU, Louisville, Clemson, and Virginia sit as the primary challengers, each with experienced quarterbacks and solid recent form, though none match Miami’s overall depth. New ACC tiebreaker rules emphasizing head-to-head results and advanced metrics aim to reduce the multi-team chaos seen in 2025, when Duke edged Virginia in the title game. Early conference results and nonconference tests against power opponents will quickly shape the top-two race, with nine-game schedules for most teams adding emphasis on consistency and rest advantages.