WEEK 13 GAME SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 21, 2024
NC State (5-5, 2-4 ACC) at Georgia Tech (6-4, 4-3 ACC)
7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN
GT leads series, 20-11
Last meeting: NCSU, 23-13 (2020)
Head Coaches:
NC State: Dave Doeren (86-63 in 12th season at NCSU; 109-67 in 14th season overall)
Georgia Tech: Brent Key (17-14 in second full season at GT; 17-14 in second full season overall)
Notes
• Georgia Tech has won 13 of the last 17 meetings. • With a win, NC State would become bowl-eligible for the ninth time under head coach Dave Doeren and the third consecutive year. • NC State is 1-1 on the road this season and closes the regular season with two road games. The Wolfpack fell to then-No. 21 Clemson and were victorious at Cal. After the Atlanta trip, NC State will travel to North Carolina. • NC State’s Davin Vann is tied for the FBS lead in forced fumbles, averaging 0.50 per game. • Georgia Tech has two wins over teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll this season. The Yellow Jackets opened 2024 by beating then-No. 10 Florida State before knocking off No. 4 Miami on Nov. 9. • GT has fumbled just once this season, tied for the FBS-low, while also allowing the second-fewest sacks per game (0.40).
Saturday, Nov. 23
Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4 ACC) at #8 Miami (9-1, 5-1 ACC)
Noon ET; ESPN
UM leads series, 8-3
Last meeting: UM, 24-21 (2013)
Head Coaches:
Wake Forest: Dave Clawson (67-67 in 11th season at WF; 157-147 in 25th season overall)
Miami: Mario Cristobal (21-14 in third season at UM; 83-74 in 14th season overall)
Notes:
• Miami has won seven straight meetings against Wake Forest dating back to 1969. Each of Wake Forest’s three wins in the series have come in Miami. • Miami is one of eight teams to be ranked in both the top 25 in total offense and total defense this season. • Miami’s Cam Ward ranks in the top five of nearly every passing statistic and leads all FBS quarterbacks in passing touchdowns, passing yards, passing offense and more. • Ward is six passing yards away from becoming the 13th ACC quarterback to throw for 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns in a season. • The Miami offense ranks first in the nation in several categories including scoring offense, total offense, passing offense, yards per play, offensive touchdowns, points scored and plays of 20-plus yards or more. • Wake Forest’s Nick Andersen is the only Wake Forest player since at least 2005 to log at least 105 tackles and two interceptions in the same season. • Wake Forest has not beaten a team ranked No. 11 or higher in the AP Poll since knocking off No. 4 Tennessee, 19-6, in 1946.
Saturday, Nov. 23
#13 SMU (9-1, 6-0 ACC) at Virginia (5-5, 3-3 ACC)
Noon ET; ESPN2
First meeting
Last meeting: N/A
Head Coaches:
SMU: Rhett Lashlee (27-10 in third season at SMU; 27-10 in third season overall)
Virginia: Tony Elliott (11-21 in third season at UVA; 11-21 in third season overall)
Notes:
• Saturday will be the first time that SMU and Virginia have ever met on the gridiron. • With a win, SMU would clinch a spot in the ACC Football Championship Game on December 7 in Charlotte, N.C. • SMU is the only team with seven wins over Power 4 opponents with four of those wins coming against bowl-eligible teams. • The Mustangs have won nine straight road games – the second-longest active streak in FBS football. • Virginia has been dominant on special teams. The Cavaliers allow the ACC’s fewest yards on both kickoff and punt returns. • UVA safety Jonas Sanker was named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week for the fourth time this year. • Sanker has logged 82 tackles, 9.0 TFL, four pass breakups and an interception. His 5.5 solo tackles per game lead the ACC this season.
Saturday, Nov. 23
UConn (7-3) at Syracuse (7-3, 4-3 ACC)
Noon ET; ACC Network
Series tied, 6-6
Last meeting: SU, 48-14 (2022)
Head Coaches:
UConn: Jim Mora (16-19 in third season at CONN; 62-49 in ninth season overall)
Syracuse: Fran Brown (7-3 in first season at SU; 7-3 in first season overall)
Notes:
• The all-time series between the two former Big East schools is tied at 6-6, with Syracuse having won each of the last four meetings. • UConn’s seven-win season is its best season since 2010 when the Huskies competed in the Big East and posted an 8-5 record. Two of UConn’s three losses have come to ACC opponents in Duke and Wake Forest. • Syracuse’s Kyle McCord ranks in the top 10 nationally in completions (1st), passing offense (2nd), passing yards (2nd), total offense (4th) and passing touchdowns (7th). • Under first-year head coach Fran Brown, the Orange are 3-0 this season in non-conference games, including a top-25 road win at UNLV in October. • Syracuse’s offense ranks in the top 10 nationally in passing offense (3rd), first downs (3rd), time of possession (4th) and fewest fumbles lost (7th). • LeQuint Allen has recorded 14 total touchdowns this season, ranking second in the ACC. • UConn and Syracuse have amended their previous agreement to add an additional game during the 2028 season it was announced last week.
Saturday, Nov. 23
North Carolina (6-4, 3-3 ACC) at Boston College (5-5, 2-4 ACC)
Noon ET; The CW
UNC leads series, 6-2
Last meeting: UNC, 26-22 (2020)
Head Coaches:
North Carolina: Mack Brown (113-77-1 in 16th season at UNC; 288-153-1 in 36th season overall)
Boston College: Bill O’Brien (5-5 in first season at BC; 20-14 in third season overall)
Notes:
• North Carolina leads the all-time series against Boston College, 6-2, with five consecutive wins dating back to the 2005 season. • After defeating Wake Forest, North Carolina has become bowl-eligible for the sixth straight season. The Tar Heels last had six or more seasons with consecutive bowl appearances from 1992-98. • UNC’s three-game winning streak is the second-longest in the ACC. Its two-game winning streak on the road is one of only three multi-game streaks currently in the ACC. • BC is one win away from becoming bowl-eligible for the second straight season. The Eagles have not been to bowl games in back-to-back seasons since 2016-17. • BC’s Donovan Ezeiruaku ranks fourth nationally in sacks (1.22 per game) and ninth in tackles-for-loss (1.6 per game). He ranks in the top four in the ACC in both categories.
Saturday, Nov. 23
Charleston Southern (1-10, 0-8 BS-OVC) at Florida State (1-9, 1-7 ACC)
1:30 p.m. ET; ACC Network Extra
FSU leads series, 2-0
Last meeting: FSU, 52-8 (2016)
Head Coaches:
Charleston Southern: Gabe Giardina (5-17 in second season at CSU; 42-34 in seventh season overall)
Florida State: Mike Norvell (32-26 in fifth season at FSU; 70-41 in ninth season overall)
Notes:
• Florida State leads the all-time series against Charleston Southern 2-0 with both games taking place in Tallahassee. The Seminoles have outscored the Buccaneers 114-18 in the contests. • Florida State ranks first in the ACC and is tied for third nationally with 19 successful fourth-down conversions this season. The Seminoles have converted at least one fourth down in nine games this year. • Punter Alex Mastromanno is a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2024, while kicker Ryan Fitzgerald has been named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Collegiate PlaceKicker Award. The Seminoles are one of four schools with semifinalists for both the Ray Guy and Lou Groza awards. • The Seminoles registered 7.0 sacks in the win over Cal, their most in a game since also having 7.0 in the 2023 ACC Football Championship Game versus Louisville. • Charleston Southern is 1-10 on the season, including an 0-8 mark in Big South-OVC play. The Bucs knocked off No. 15/16 Furman to record its first ranked win since 2016.
Saturday, Nov. 23
Stanford (3-7, 2-5 ACC) at California (5-5, 1-5 ACC)
3:30 p.m. ET; ACC Network
Stanford leads series, 65-50-11
Last meeting: Cal, 27-15 (2023)
Head Coaches:
Stanford: Troy Taylor (6-16 in second season at STAN; 36-24 in fifth season overall)
Cal: Justin Wilcox (41-48 in eighth season at CAL; 41-48 in eighth season overall)
Notes:
• Saturday will be the 127th edition of “The Big Game” between the Bay Area rivals. Stanford holds a 65-50-11 advantage in the all-time series. • Cal has won four of the last five meetings, snapping Stanford’s nine-game winning streak from 2010-18. • Stanford’s Emmett Mosley V caught 13 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns against Louisville, earning the ACC Receiver and Rookie of the Week honors. • By beating then-No. 22 Louisville last week, Stanford picked up its first win over an AP-ranked team since beating No. 3 Oregon in 2021. • Cal is just one win away from becoming bowl-eligible for the second consecutive year. The Golden Bears have not been to back-to-back bowl games since 2018-19. • In Cal’s win over Wake Forest, Fernando Mendoza became the first Cal QB to throw for 350 or more yards with multiple passing TDs and a rushing TD since 2016.
Saturday, Nov. 23
The Citadel (5-6, 3-5 SoCon) at #17 Clemson (8-2, 7-1 ACC)
3:30 p.m. ET; The CW
CU leads series, 33-5-1
Last meeting: CU, 49-0 (2020)
Head Coaches:
The Citadel: Maurice Drayton (5-17 in second season at CIT; 5-17 in second season overall)
Clemson: Dabo Swinney (178-45 in 17th season at CU; 178-45 in 17th season overall)
Notes:
• With a win on Saturday, Clemson would secure its 14th consecutive nine-win season. A win would tie Florida State (1987-2000) for the third-longest string of nine-win seasons in FBS history. • The Tigers’ current 69-4 record at home during the CFP era is the second-best in the country in that span. • Clemson enters the game ranked in the top 15 nationally in both total offense (10th, 460.7 yards per game) and scoring offense (14th, 36.3 points per game) • Quarterback Cade Klubnik needs just 234 combined rushing and passing yards to become the sixth player in Clemson history to reach 7,000 career yards of total offense. • Clemson would clinch a trip to the ACC Football Championship game if Miami loses to Wake Forest this weekend. • The Citadel heads to Death Valley with a 5-6 record, including a 3-5 mark in SoCon play. • The Citadel have won three of its last four games, including two on the road.
Saturday, Nov. 23
Pitt (7-3, 3-3 ACC) at Louisville (6-4, 4-3 ACC)
4 p.m.; ESPN2
Pitt leads series, 11-9
Last meeting: Pitt, 38-21 (2023)
Head Coaches:
Pitt: Pat Narduzzi (72-53 in 10th season at Pitt; 72-53 in 10th season overall)
Louisville: Jeff Brohm (16-8 in second season at UL; 82-52 in 11th season overall)
Notes:
• Pittsburgh leads the all-time series with Louisville, 11-9. When the game is played in Louisville, the Cardinals hold a 4-3 advantage. • Pitt ranks second nationally with an average of 8.7 tackles-for-loss per game. • Kyle Louis is the first Pitt linebacker to intercept four passes in a season since 2004. His four picks rank first among FBS linebackers this season. • Louisville wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks has logged five games with 100 or more receiving yards. In Louisville’s loss to Stanford, Brooks caught nine passes for 104 yards. • UL running back Isaac Brown has been named a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, given to the most versatile player in college football. • Brown and Pitt’s Eli Holstein were both named as semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year.
Saturday, Nov. 23
Virginia Tech (5-5, 3-3 ACC) at Duke (7-3, 3-3 ACC)
8 p.m. ET; ACC Network
VT leads series, 19-11
Last meeting: DU, 24-7 (2022)
Head Coaches:
Virginia Tech: Brent Pry (15-19 in third season at VT; 15-19 in third season overall)
Duke: Manny Diaz (7-3 in first season at DU; 28-18 in fourth season overall)
Notes:
• Duke is looking to pick up consecutive wins against Virginia Tech for the first time since taking six straight from the Hokies from 1937-1951. • Virginia Tech is one win away from its second straight season of bowl eligibility under head coach Brent Pry. • VT defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland has been named a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, the Bednarik Award, and Walter Camp Player of Year. • The Virginia Tech defense has not allowed a touchdown in the first half in any of their last five games. • VT’s defense has had a knack for forcing turnovers this season. The Hokies have registered 17 takeaways through 10 games. • Duke, coming off consecutive .500 or better records in ACC play, is aiming for three straight seasons with four or more league wins for the first time since 2013-15. • Graduate WR Jordan Moore, a semifinalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy, has caught a pass in an ACC-leading 36 consecutive games.
AROUND THE ACC
Boston College: Making his second start of the season quarterback Grayson James was 18-for-32 through the air for 237 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles’ loss at SMU last time out. Over his two starts this season, the FIU transfer is 37-for-64 for 405 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also rushed 13 times for 16 yards and two scores in those two starts.
California: : Preseason All-ACC selection Jadyn Ott, who has missed much of the season due to injury, had a season-high 78 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries for the Golden Bears last week against Syracuse. He also recorded his longest rush of the season (53 yards), while his 15-yard scoring run was the 24th rushing touchdown of his career. Over Cal’s last three games, he has carried the ball 10 times or more in each contest.
Clemson: The Tigers finished ACC regularseason play at 7-1 with their win at Pitt last week and will now await results from across the conference to determine whether or not the Tigers will qualify for the 2024 ACC Football Championship Game for a conference-leading 10th time. At 8-2 overall, Clemson will conclude its regular season with non-conference contests versus in-state foes The Citadel (Nov. 23) and South Carolina (Nov. 30).
Duke: Quarterback transfer Maalik Murphy has already made his mark in the Blue Devils’ program with his 22 touchdown passes this season. Murphy’s 22 touchdown tosses are tied for ninth nationally and tied with Daniel Jones for the second-most in a season in Duke history. Anthony Dilweg owns the record with 24 in 1988. Murphy has thrown two or more touchdown passes in eight games this year, which is tied with Dilweg for the most in a single season in program history.
Florida State: The Seminoles’ two specialists in placekicker Ryan Fitzgerald and punter Alex Mastromanno have both been recognized for their play this season. For the second consecutive season, Fitzgerald was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s top placekicker. He is 11-for-11 on field goal attempts this season, including making good on all five of his attempts from 50 yards or more. For the second consecutive season, Mastromanno is a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, presented annually to the nation’s top punter. He leads the country with his average of 48.9 yards per punt, more than one yard better than the second-best average nationally.
Georgia Tech: Yellow Jacket wide receiver Malik Rutherford has caught a pass in 26 consecutive games, which is the seventh-longest streak of consecutive games with a reception in program history and the Yellow Jackets’ longest streak since Demaryius Thomas had a reception in 29 straight games from 2008-09. It is also tied for the 26th-longest active streak in the nation and the fourth-longest active streak in the ACC.
Louisville: The Cardinals’ duo of Ja’Corey Brooks and Isaac Brown are closing in on becoming the fourth duo to record 1,000 yards receiving and 1,000 yards rushing in the same season in Louisville history. With two games left in the regular season, Brooks needs just 55 yards (945) and Brown is 197 yards (803) short of reaching the 1,000-yard mark on the ground. The last pair of teammates to accomplish this feat was Tutu Atwell and Javian Hawkins in the 2019 season. Atwell caught 70 passes for 1,216 yards, while Hawkins ran for 1,525 yards.
Miami: Cam Ward continues to put up video game numbers, having thrown for over 300 yards in nine games this season. He leads the nation in passing touchdowns (32), passing yards (3,494), and Total QBR (89.6). The first-year Cane has thrown 151 touchdown passes over his three stops during his collegiate career and is only five touchdown passes away from breaking the NCAA Division I record for career touchdown passes held by Case Keenum of Houston with 155.
North Carolina: Carolina became bowl-eligible with the win over Wake Forest at home last week, marking the sixth consecutive season the Tar Heels have done so, which is the second longest streak in program history. Over the Tar Heels’ current three-game winning streak, the defense has held its opponents to an average of 16.3 points per game. The Heels have also racked up 19.0 sacks and allowed just 281.0 yards of total offense per game in those wins.
NC State: With a 5-5 record, the Wolfpack will be playing for bowl eligibility this week as they travel to Georgia Tech. NC State has qualified for bowls in nine of the past 10 seasons, which is tied as the second-best mark in the ACC in that time frame with Miami. Clemson has qualified for a bowl in 10 straight years.
Pitt: The Panthers’ defense has always been a staple under head coach Pat Narduzzi. This season, the Panthers are one of only six FBS teams with at least one player with at least 35 total tackles, 4.0 sacks, 9.0 tackles-for-loss and an interception. The Panthers have three – Rasheem Biles, Kyle Louis and Braylan Lovelace – and are the only team in all of FBS to have multiple players with these feats
SMU: The Mustangs have ponied up in their first season in the ACC and will be looking to clinch a spot in the ACC Football Championship Game with a win at Virginia on Saturday. At 9-1 overall and 6-0 in conference play, the Mustangs are one of only nine Power 4 teams with one loss or fewer on the season. SMU is also the only team with at least seven wins against P4 teams and four of those wins coming against teams that are already bowl-eligible.
Stanford: Cardinal placekicker Emmet Kenney has been key in Stanford’s two conference wins this season, as both of its ACC wins have come on Kenney field goals to end the game. In the most recent come-from-behind 38-35 win over Louisville, Kenney kicked a career-long 52-yard field goal as time expired for the win. In the ACC opener at Syracuse on September 20, Kenney nailed a game-winning 39-yard field goal with three seconds to play to give the Cardinal the conference win.
Syracuse: First-year head coach Fran Brown has done a great job at the helm of the Orange, as his team has two wins over Top 25 teams, five wins in one-touchdown games and six wins versus teams with a record of .500 or better on the season. Behind transfer quarterback Kyle McCord, the Orange offense ranks third nationally in passing offense (350.7 ypg) and first downs made (259) and is fourth in time of possession (33:49). The offense also ranks in the top 15 in both third-down conversion percentage (48.4) and fourth-down conversion percentage (69.2) on the season.
Virginia: The Cavaliers are one win away from becoming bowl-eligible for the first time under head coach Tony Elliott and the first time since 2021. This season, Virginia has posted the most wins (5) since 2021, the most ACC wins (3) since 2021 and the most road wins since 2011. Virginia started the season off 4-1, its best start under Elliott and only the sixth time since 1999 that UVA won at least four of its first five games.
Virginia Tech: Defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles, a Duke graduate who played in 48 games from 2020-23, will face his former team on Saturday. This season at Virginia Tech, Peebles has recorded 28 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss, and 3.0 sacks. He leads all ACC defensive tackles and ranks third in the nation at his position with 31 quarterback hurries this season.
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons’ defense has been led this season by Nick Andersen, as the linebacker leads the ACC and ranks in the top 10 nationally in tackles per game at 10.5. He also ranks in the top 15 nationally with an average of 5.1 solo tackles per game this season. Andersen is the only Wake Forest player since at least 2005 with 105 or more tackles and two interceptions in a season
