Last mailbag of 2015. Let’s get to it...

@DavidHaleESPN How do you see the ACC being ranked to start NEXT year? — Isilith (@ShadowHeels) December 17, 2015

The conventional wisdom would be that if Clemson performs well in the playoff, Florida State wins a New Year's Six game, and the rest of the league holds its own during bowl season, with a slew of talented coaches coming aboard for 2016, the ACC would be in good shape, perception-wise. But we've heard this talk before, and perceptions don't really change quickly. I think Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina will benefit from strong seasons when the preseason polls are announced next year, but I wouldn't count on much of a bump for the rest of the league in the early going.

@DavidHaleESPN is #Miami the immediate favorite to win the coastal next season despite #UNC's recent dominance after the Richt hire? — Alex Turko (@aturko_23) December 17, 2015

It's hard to say too much with so many big questions still looming. How will Miami fill out its coaching staff? Will North Carolina have any surprise defections for the NFL draft? Not to mention that there are a few other teams who will certainly stake their claims to some preseason love, too. Miami's big advantage is at QB, but some of the other flaws might take more than one offseason for Mark Richt to fix. Tentatively, I'd still look at the Tar Heels as the favorite, with the Hurricanes, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech in the mix, too. But Coastal Chaos could still be a very real thing - even if all the teams are much better than they were before.

@DavidHaleESPN Is Paul Johnson on the hot seat? — John Jacobs (@JohnRJacobsJr) December 17, 2015

What happened with Georgia Tech this season was sort of a perfect storm of injuries, a brutal schedule and some bad luck. Is there some added pressure on Paul Johnson to get it turned around in 2016? Sure. But I wouldn't call it a hot seat, and I think a lot of the experience the younger players got this season will pay dividends next year.

@DavidHaleESPN For which team are the stakes higher in the @Belkbowl? An NC State win could put a positive button on an otherwise meh year. — James Curle (@JamesCurle) December 17, 2015

I don't think the stakes are higher for NC State due to any momentum for 2016, but I do think the Wolfpack need the win more because Dave Doeren has yet to secure a signature victory. For both teams, this game represents more of the end of an era (Jacoby Brissett's career at NC State, Dak Prescott's at Mississippi State), and I doubt there'll be much carryover beyond that. But the biggest criticism of Doeren's tenure is the lack of a win over a good Power 5 team, and beating an SEC West school that spent much of the season in the top 25 would be an excellent way to quiet those concerns.

@DavidHaleESPN Who has a better 2016: Deshaun Watson or Dalvin Cook and why? — Mike Doty (@mike1592) December 17, 2015

Both Dalvin Cook and Deshaun Watson might post better numbers in 2016 than they did in 2015. They'll both likely have a more experienced supporting cast around them. I'd give the slight edge here to Watson, largely because - aside from 2015 - it's been much easier for a quarterback to win the award than a tailback. The whole "Year of the Running Back" narrative took off this season, but I wouldn't expect that to continue.

@DavidHaleESPN @ESPN_ACC How big of an impact will Dino Babers have at #Cuse? His offense seems a perfect fit for the CarrierDome. — jpmccanney (@jpmccanney) December 17, 2015

There seems to be close to unanimous support of this hire among both insiders and fans, but the job of getting talent to Syracuse is a big one. Dino Babers is saying the right things - embracing the school's history while preaching the strengths of his system to recruits. How far that sales pitch goes with recruits is still an open question, but his system is both innovative and unique in the ACC. Being different is his best asset, and that could work well at a place like Syracuse.

@DavidHaleESPN ya think this year's performance by the Heels may put a few more butts in seats at Kenan next season? — T. Hux (@AF_Heel) December 17, 2015

Success does have a positive correlation with attendance, but there are all kinds of other factors. Kickoff times, weather, the opposition - all will play a role in how motivated fans are to get into the stadium. There are places - largely in the SEC - that will pack the house no matter what. North Carolina isn't one of those places, and one winning season won't change that. But the Heels aren't much different from a lot of other programs - both in college and the pros. It's tougher and tougher to convince people to shell out a hefty chunk of their paycheck when the experience on TV is often just as good.