WEEK 11 GAME SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8
TIME, TV SIRIUSXM APP/WEB
California at Wake Forest
8 p.m. ET, ACCN 84 or 371 84 or 371
Series: First-Ever Meeting.
Last meeting: N/A
ACCN: Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Orlando Franklin (analyst), Morgan Uber (sideline)
Head Coaches:
California: Justin Wilcox (40-47 in eighth season at Cal; 40-47 in eighth season overall)
Wake Forest: Dave Clawson (67-65 in 11th season at WF; 157-145 in 25th season overall)
Notes:
• Friday night’s game will be the first meeting between the Golden Bears and Demon Deacons on the gridiron. • Cal is still searching for its first ACC win in program history. The Golden Bears have lost each of their first four ACC games by a combined nine points, including a one-point loss to No. 8 Miami and a two-point loss at No. 22 Pitt. • Cal’s Teddye Buchanan logged 15 total tackles in the Golden Bears’ loss to NC State, matching the single-game high in an ACC conference game this season. • The Demon Deacons have won three of their last four games, including two wins in ACC play. • Wake Forest’s Nick Andersen leads the ACC with 10.3 tackles per game and is one of just eight players nationally averaging 10.0 or more tackles per game. • Wake Forest’s Hank Bachmeier is one of just two ACC quarterbacks to throw for 400 or more yards in a conference game this season, logging 407 passing yards against UVA.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9
TIME, TV SIRIUSXM APP/WEB
#4 Miami at Georgia Tech
Noon ET, ESPN 81 or 371 81 or 371
Series: Series tied at 14-14;
Last meeting: Georgia Tech, 23-20 (2023)
ESPN: Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), Kris Budden (sideline)
Head Coaches:
Miami: Mario Cristobal (21-13 in third season at UM; 83-73 in 14th season overall)
Georgia Tech: Brent Key (16-14 in second full season at GT; 16-14 in second full season overall)
Notes:
• The Hurricanes and Yellow Jackets are deadlocked at 14-14 in the overall series. • GT won 23-20 at Miami last year in an improbable ending, taking advantage of a late fumble and scoring on a 44-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left in the contest. • Miami’s offense ranks first nationally in scoring at 47.4 points per game, having scored in every quarter of all nine of its games this season. • Cam Ward leads the nation with 29 passing touchdowns, which is also tied for the single-season record in UM history. • Georgia Tech’s defense is much improved this season, allowing just 323.3 yards per game on the year. • Th Yellow Jackets have been without quarterback Haynes King the last two games, scoring just 19 points combined in those two contests. With King at quarterback, GT averaged 32.9 points per game over the first seven games. • The Yellow Jackets play their fourth nationally ranked top 12 opponent this week in No. 4 Miami. The Yellow Jackets are 5-5 in the previous 10 matchups against top-25 teams under Key, including a 1-2 mark this season.
Syracuse at Boston College
Noon ET, The CW 106, 193, or 382 955 or 972
Series: Syracuse leads series, 34-23;
Last meeting: Boston College, 17-10 (2023)
The CW: Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst), Treavor Scales (sideline)
Head Coaches:
Syracuse: Fran Brown (6-2 in first season at SU; 6-2 in first season overall)
Boston College: Bill O’Brien (4-4 in first season at BC; 19-13 in third collegiate season overall)
Notes:
• Boston College and Syracuse have split the last 12 meetings, each winning six games since 2010. BC won the 2023 meeting, 17-10, in Syracuse, N.Y. • In an offense known for throwing the football, Syracuse’s LeQuint Allen is one of just three ACC running backs to score three or more rushing touchdowns in a conference game this season. • Syracuse boasts the fourth-best passing offense nationally, ranking second in the ACC, at 349.0 passing yards per game. Averaging 345.1 passing yards per game, Kyle McCord is on pace to become the first Syracuse QB to ever log more than 300 yards per game. • Despite being 1-3 in ACC games, Boston College boasts the third-best total defense in conference games. The Eagles currently have the ACC’s best passing defense. • BC’s Donovan Ezeirauaku leads the ACC in tacklesfor-loss (1.5 per game) and ranks second in sacks (1.13/ game).
#19 Clemson at Virginia Tech
3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN 161, 194, or 390 956 or 980
Series: Clemson leads series, 23-12-1;
Last meeting: Clemson, 45-10 (2020)
ESPN: Mark Jones (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Quint Kessenich (sideline)
Head Coaches:
Clemson: Dabo Swinney (176-45 in 17th season at CU; 176-45 in 17th season overall)
Virginia Tech: Brent Pry (15-18 in third season at VT; 15-18 in third season overall)
Notes:
• Clemson has won each of the last six meetings with Virginia Tech, including a pair of ACC Championship games (2011 and 2016). • Both teams are coming off an ACC loss last week and will look to pick up a pivotal ACC win with just under a month remaining in the season. • The Tigers are attempting to improve to 3-0 in true road games this season. CU enters the week as one of 14 FBS schools undefeated in road games this year. • Clemson’s Cade Klubnik ranks third nationally with 21 passing touchdowns this season, including 18 in ACC play. He is also averaging 258.0 passing yards per game. • The Hokies boast the No. 1 red-zone defense in the ACC and fifth nationally, holding opponents to score on just 66.7 percent of their trips inside the 20-yard line. • Virginia Tech’s defense is allowing just 205.6 passing yards per game, third in the ACC. • Part of the reason for the solid pass defense is the rush, as defensive lineman Antwaun Powell-Ryland leads the nation with 12.0 sacks, an average of 1.33 per game.
Duke at North Carolina State
3:30 p.m. ET, ACCN 106, 193, or 371 371 or 955
Series: Duke leads series, 42-37-5;
Last meeting: Duke, 24-3 (2023)
ACCN: Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)
Head Coaches:
Duke: Manny Diaz (6-3 in first season at DU; 27-18 in fourth season overall)
North Carolina State: Dave Doeren (86-62 in 12th season at NCSU; 109-66 in 14th season overall)
Notes:
• Although Duke leads the overall series – which dates back to 1924 – the Wolfpack posts a 15-4 mark since 1990. However, Duke has won three of the last four meetings between the two teams. • The distance between Carter-Finley Stadium and Wallace Wade Stadium is only 22 miles. • Duke enters the road contest on a two-game skid, having dropped back-to-back ACC games against top 25 teams in SMU and Miami. • The Blue Devils defense surrendered a season-high 53 points in a road loss to No. 5 Miami last week. • NC State scored 59 points against Stanford last week in a home win – its highest scoring output ever in an ACC game and the second-highest total by an ACC team in a conference game this season. • Wolfpack starting running back Jordan Waters was Duke’s leading rusher last season
Florida State at #10 Notre Dame
7:30 p.m. ET, NBC 129, 161, or 194 129 or 956
Series: Florida State leads series, 6-5;
Last meeting: Notre Dame, 41-38 (2021)
NBC: Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
Head Coaches:
Florida State: Mike Norvell (32-25 in fifth season at FSU; 70-40 in ninth season overall)
Notre Dame: Marcus Freeman (26-9 in fourth season at ND; 26-9 in fourth season overall)
Notes:
• Florida State wrapped up its ACC slate last week at home versus North Carolina and will conclude its season with three non-conference matchups, starting with No. 10 Notre Dame. • While Florida State leads the series at 6-5, the Fighting Irish have won each of the last three meetings. • Notre Dame is the third top-15 team that the Seminoles have played since October and the second on the road. • FSU has started eight different offensive line combinations through nine games this season, the most in the country in 2024 and the most in a single season in FSU history since 2019. • Notre Dame is 3-0 versus the ACC this season, with wins over Louisville, Stanford and Georgia Tech. • Notre Dame’s defense is one of the best in the nation, ranking third in team passing efficiency defense (96.25),fourth in scoring defense (12.1), fourth in passing defense (156.1), fifth in red zone defense (0.667) and fifth in first downs allowed (124).
Virginia at #23 Pitt
8 p.m. ET, ACCN 106, 193, or 371 371 or 955
Series: Pitt leads series, 10-4;
Last meeting: Pitt, 37-7 (2022)
ACCN: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Dana Boyle (sideline)
Head Coaches:
Virginia: Tony Elliott (10-20 in third season at UVA; 10-20 in third season overall)
Pitt: Pat Narduzzi (72-51 in 10th season at Pitt; 72-51 in 10th season overall)
Notes:
• Pitt holds a 10-4 edge over Virginia in the all-time series, including winning six of the last seven matchups. • Pitt is 7-2 against Virginia in ACC play and has won the past two meetings, the most recent a 37-7 victory in Charlottesville in 2022. • Virginia enters the road contest on a three-game losing streak. However, two of those three games have come against top-25 teams in Louisville (L, 20-24) and Clemson (L, 31-48). • Despite suffering their first loss of the season last week at No. 20 SMU, the 7-1 Panthers own their best eight-game start since 2009. • Pitt is averaging 38.9 points per game to rank 10th nationally. It marks the Panthers’ highest scoring clip since the 2021 ACC championship squad averaged a school-record 41.4.
AROUND THE ACC
Boston College: In their first year under head coach Bill O’Brien, the Eagles are one of the most disciplined teams in all of FBS. The Eagles rank first in the ACC in fewest penalties (36), fewest penalties per game (4.50), fewest penalty yards (304) and fewest penalty yards per game (38.0), all of which rank in the top 12 in all of FBS.
California: Senior defensive back Nohl Williams has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. He leads the nation in interceptions with six picks. Of those six picks, he has totaled 54 interception return yards and returned one for a touchdown versus Miami. He also has 28 tackles, 19 of which are solo stops, and a total of 10 passes defended. He also returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown in the season opener versus UC Davis.
Clemson: The Tigers head to Virginia Tech ranked in the top 10 nationally in both total offense (fifth; 485.4 yards per game) and scoring offense (ninth; 39.4 points per game). Clemson has projected the ball this year on offense, as the Tigers rank first in the ACC and second nationally in fewest turnovers lost with four and fewest fumbles lost with one. The Tigers have also only thrown three interceptions, which is also tied for first in the ACC and fourth nationally.
Duke: The Blue Devils’ Maalik Murphy has passed for multiple touchdowns in seven of nine games this season, including a career-high three touchdown tosses in five contests. Over the last two games, both of which came against top-20 nationally ranked teams, Murphy has combined to throw six touchdown passes. He ranks eighth nationally with 20 passing touchdowns this season.
Florida State: The Seminoles rank first nationally with 18 successful fourth-down conversions this season. The Seminoles have converted at least one fourth down in eight games this year, including a 28-yard touchdown pass from Brock Glenn to Ja’Khi Douglas on fourth-and-3 against North Carolina last week. FSU converted four fourth-down attempts against both Clemson and Miami and is the only Power 4 conference team with at least four fourth-down conversions in multiple games this season.
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets play their fourth nationally ranked top 12 opponent this week as they host No. 4 Miami in Atlanta. Under head coach Brent Key, Georgia Tech is playing a nationally-ranked team for the 11th time in 31 games. The Yellow Jackets are 5-5 in the previous 10 matchups against Top-25 teams under Key, including a 1-2 mark this season.
Louisville: The Cardinals posted their first-ever win over Clemson last week (1-8) to become bowl-eligible for the 13th time in the last 14 seasons, not counting the 2020 COVID-19 season. The win over the then-No. 11 Tigers was also Louisville’s first win in the state of South Carolina in five attempts (1-4) and the highest-ranked opponent that the Cardinals have defeated on the road. The previous high was No. 13 Southern Miss in 2000.
Miami: With the Hurricanes 53 points last week against Duke, Miami has scored at least 50 points in a game five times this season. The Hurricanes scored 56 points against Florida A&M, 62 points against Ball State, 50 points against USF, 52 points against Louisville and now 53 against Duke. This is the first time in program history Miami has scored 50 points that many times in a season.
North Carolina: The transformation of the Tar Heels’ defense in the last two weeks has been a complete 180. UNC has recorded 17.0 sacks in the last two games after recording 15.0 sacks combined in the first seven games of the season. Kaimon Rucker is tied with Lawrence Taylor for sixth on UNC’s all-time sacks list with 21.0, as he has five sacks this season and four in the last two games. Beau Atkinson recorded a career-high 3.5 sacks last week versus Florida State, which equals the second-most sacks in a game in UNC history.
North Carolina State: The Wolfpack scored 59 points in an ACC home win over Stanford last week, the most points by an NC State team ever in an ACC game. The 59 points are also tied for the most by a team in an ACC game this season, ironically, matching Clemson which scored 59 points against the Wolfpack back on September 21.
Pitt: The Panthers defense ranks fifth nationally in tackles-for-loss per game (8.1) and 11th in sacks per game (3.00) due in large part to the duo of Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles. Louis ranks 19th nationally with 10.0 tackles-for-loss on the season, while Biles is also in the top 25 with 9.5 TFLs. The duo has been aided in the opponents’ backfield with 6.5 tackles-for-loss this season from both Jimmy Scott and Braylan Lovelace.
SMU: Running back Brashard Smith has been a do-it-all back for the Mustangs this season. After rejoining head coach Rhett Lashlee after playing for him as the offensive coordinator at Miami, Smith ranks in the top 10 nationally in total touchdowns with 13 and all-purpose yards with an average of 145.22 per game. He also ranks 14th nationally in rushing touchdowns (11), 16th in rushing yards (906), 19th in rushing yards per carry (6.47) and 21st in rushing yards per game (100.7).
Stanford: Quarterback Ashton Daniels tied the record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in Stanford history before leaving the game with an injury last week versus NC State. He carried the ball 11 times for 129 yards and ran for two touchdowns. His 67-yard touchdown run in the first quarter is the longest rush of the season for the Cardinal and the longest rush by a Stanford quarterback since at least 2003. The next closest was a Keller Chryst 62-yard scamper in 2016. It is the third season in a row that Daniels has recorded a two-touchdown game on the ground for the Cardinal. He also completed six-of-eight passes for 70 yards prior to exiting the game in the third quarter.
Syracuse: In his second game back from missing six weeks due to injury, Marlowe Wax proved he is a difference-maker as he led two crucial takeaways that allowed Syracuse to overcome an 18-point second-half deficit in a home win over Virginia Tech. With under a minute to play in the third quarter, he recovered a fumble that set up the Orange offense to take its first lead of the game on the ensuing drive. He then forced a fumble in overtime that ended the game in Syracuse’s 38-31 overtime win. Wax also had 1.5 sacks and nine total tackles, in addition to his forced fumble and fumble recovery in the victory.
Virginia: The Cavaliers’ challenging schedule continues this week with a road contest at No. 23 Pitt. Virginia is on a three-game losing streak, however, two of those three games have come against top-25 teams in Louisville (L, 20-24) and Clemson (L, 31-48). Pitt will not just be the third top25 team that the Cavaliers will play in their last four games, but the Panthers are also the first of three straight top 25 opponents with No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 13 SMU in the next two games.
Virginia Tech: With their top two offensive players in Kyron Drones and Bhayshul Tuten injured, the Hokies pushed Syracuse to the limit in a 38-31 overtime loss last week on the road. Quarterback Collin Schlee passed for 206 yards and rushed for 54 while running back Jeremiah Coney rushed for 96 yards including a 47-yard rush at the end of the first half. The duo combined for 356 yards rushing and passing. For the season, the duo of Tuten and Drones have averaged 340 yards of rushing and passing.
Wake Forest: Taylor Morin has also been crucial for the Demon Deacons in the punt return game this season, averaging 17.5 yards per return which leads the ACC and ranks fourth nationally. He also ranks second in program history in punt return yards with 763 career yards, which is also the most among all active FBS players.
