14. Stanford Cardinal
13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
12. Syracuse Orange
Pate: “Georgia Tech could jump big, now. Georgia Tech’s in a position where the program’s been dormant for a little while, and Brent Key, you could feel it start to click a little bit last year. This year, you could easily sell me on Georgia Tech jumping up two tiers this year. They got the best class coming in since they’ve had in 2020. They went from 3-9 to 5-7 to 7-6 this past year. So trending in the right direction. Stanford — Troy Taylor year two. Not sure what to make of things out there. Could be a program on the rise.”
11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
10. Pittsburgh Panthers
Pate: “Wake Forest, especially — 11-3 to 8-5 to 3-9. Pitt — 11-3 to 9-4 to 3-9. They’re just programs trending in the wrong direction.”
