Coastal will be VERY interesting from our perspective.
VT has been down the past few seasons, but we really haven't taken advantage of it outside of 2014. They have a new coach in Fuentes, but they kept Bud Foster. Let's be honest, Foster has had more success against CPJ than vice versa. Even if VT "holds serve" on defense, if their offense improves, VT could be just as tough on us.
Miami has always given GT trouble. CPJ has not had much luck against Miami no matter who the coach was. I believe we've only won twice against them during CPJ's time. We lost to an interim coach this year. Now Mark Richt has taken over, and he's 6-2 against CPJ. Miami does not lack for athletes to defend our offense, and Richt has said he will take over coaching QBs again. Oh, it's not like Miami's QB Brad Kaaya is a bad QB...probably the best QB after DeShaun Watson in the ACC returning next year. He will be MUCH better under Richt.
Virginia made an intriguing hire with Mendenhall. Mendenhall LOVES to play against "funky" offenses...he takes pride against shutting vaunted offenses down. He took our offense behind the woodshed both times we played them. Some have said BYU has an advantage because of how their guys physically mature after coming back from missions. I think there's a truth to that, but I also think there's truth to the fact that BYU's alcohol and "life" policies (can't have someone of the opposite sex in your room, I believe no premarital sex, etc.) are also a hindrance to recruiting there. Remember, BYU was a mess before Mendenhall went there. UVA is a program with a high ceiling. They can recruit VERY good players without really trying (as evidence with London). Get a good coach in there that can take recruiting to the next level AND recruit? Could potentially be a top 10-20 program every year. I think Mendenhall is a good hire.
Duke, as much as some want to view them as "Duke", has improved under Cutcliffe. They appear to have taken a step back this year, but they still beat us. Not an easy out they once were.
UNC looks to have finally figured it out. I think they take a step back next year when their Marquis Williams leaves, but they will still be good. Fedora finally has "his guys" in the system. Our offense has always been capable of keeping the pressure on UNC to match, this year we were not able to do that and UNC ran away. Will our offense return next season to keep up with UNC? We'll see.
Pittsburgh. In Pat Narduzzi's first year, Pitt came in 2nd in the Coastal...all without stud RB James Connor. Oh, and they beat us in Narduzzi's first attempt at our offense. Pitt will recruit better, and Narduzzi accomplished 2015 without "his guys". Pitt's worst loss came against Notre Dam (42-30 loss), but they could have won every game.
Clemson...not a Coastal team, but they are our permanent cross rival so they count against our record. Deshaun Watson has proven to be the real deal. He's going to New York to sit for the Heisman award. At minimum, he's here for next year. Clemson will always recruit studs, and Dabo has proven to be a better coach than was thought at first. He's grown into the "CEO Coach" model by hiring good assistants and letting them coach. Bret Venebles was a fantastic hire for Clemson at DC.
There will no longer be any breathers. In the past, we could count on Duke, UNC, and even UVA for three automatic wins and split the rest. Not anymore.
We definitely have a harder road going forward to make it to the ACCCG.