Thursday, August 28
East Carolina (0-0, 0-0 American) at NC State (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7 p.m. ET; ACCN
NC State leads series, 19-14
Last Meeting: ECU, 26-21 (2024)
Head Coaches
East Carolina: Blake Harrell (5-1 in 1st full season at ECU; 5-1 in 2nd season overall)
NC State: Dave Doeren (87-65 in 13th season at NCSU; 110-69 in 15th season overall)
Notes:
• NC State holds a 19-14 series lead over East Carolina, as the two teams meet in Raleigh, N.C., for the 12th time to open the season. • The two teams will play for the “Victory Barrel” in the season opener after meeting in the Military Bowl last year, a 26-21 win by the Pirates in Annapolis, Md. • Dave Doeren, the winningest coach in NC State history with 87 wins, enters his 13th season at NC State. His tenure ranks sixth in the FBS in longevity at a current school. • NC State has won seven straight season openers, the longest active streak among current ACC teams. A win over ECU would tie the Pack’s longest such winning streak since World War II (1997-2004; 1988-98). • Under Doeren, NC State has lost just two non-conference contests in Carter-Finley Stadium, posting a 30-2 mark in non-ACC home games. However, one of those losses came to ECU back on November 23, 2013 in Doeren’s first season in Raleigh. • ECU’s Blake Harrell, who led the Pirates to a record of 5-1 as the interim coach over the last six games last year, was named the head coach in November 2024. • The Pirates have produced a 46-64 (.418) regular season non-league record since 1997.
Thursday, August 28
Elon (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at (RV) Duke (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7:30 p.m. ET; ACCNX
Duke leads series, 8-0-1
Last Meeting: Duke, 26-3 (2024)
Head Coaches
Elon: Tony Trisciani (32-21 in 7th season at Elon; 32-21 in 7th season overall)
Duke: Manny Diaz (8-4 in 2nd season at DU; 30-19 in 5th season overall)
Notes:
• Duke opens the season with Elon at home for the second straight year, as the Blue Devils defeated the Phoenix 26-3 in Manny Diaz’s debut last year. • Duke is looking for its fourth consecutive season-opening win and has gone 8-3 in its last 11 season openers entering the 2025 season. • Duke returns 14 starters from last season’s squad (six on offense, five on defense and three on special teams), which is tied for the sixth-highest total nationally. • QB transfer Darian Mensah posted a 166.7 passer rating as a freshman last season (at Tulane), the sixth best in the FBS (min. 150 attempts). The last FBS freshmen to have that high of a rating were Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud (186.6) and Oklahoma’s Caleb Williams (169.6) in 2021. • Elon, in its seventh season under head coach Tony Trisciani, was picked to finish eighth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) preseason poll, after going 6-6 last year in 2024. • In last year’s meeting, Elon held Duke to just 59 rushing yards in the loss, the fewest total for Duke against a non-conference opponent since 2010.
Friday, August 29
Kennesaw State (0-0, 0-0 CSUA) at Wake Forest (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7 p.m. ET; ACCN
First Meeting
Head Coaches
Kennesaw State: Jerry Mack (0-0 in 1st season at KS; 31-15 in 5th season overall)
Wake Forest: Jake Dickert (0-0 in 1st season at WF; 23-20 in 5th season overall)
Notes:
• The Jake Dickert era begins with the Demon Deacons’ first-ever meeting against the Kennesaw State Owls in the 2025 season opener. • Running back Demond Claiborne will once again be a focal point of the Wake Forest offense after rushing for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. • Wake Forest also returns All-American defensive back Nick Andersen, who led the ACC with 122 total tackles in 2024. • Over the last 14 years, Wake Forest is 11-3 in season openers, including a 9-2 record in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-present). Additionally, WF has gone 10-1 in home openers in that same time period, with the lone loss coming to No. 1 Clemson in 2020. • The Demon Deacons will look for new offensive threats, returning less than 30% of their total yards from 2024. • Kennesaw State went 2-10 (2-6 Conference USA) in 2024 – its first FBS campaign. • Jerry Mack takes over as the head coach of Kennesaw State and will make his FBS head coaching debut against Wake Forest. Mack was previously the head coach of North Carolina Central, winning three MEAC titles.
Friday, August 29
(RV) Georgia Tech (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at (RV) Colorado (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
8 p.m. ET; ESPN
First Meeting
Head Coaches
Georgia Tech: Brent Key (18-16 in 3rd full season at GT; 18-16 in 3rd full season overall)
Colorado: Deion Sanders (13-12 in 3rd season at CO; 39-18 in 6th season overall)
Notes:
• This will be the first-ever meeting between Georgia Tech and Colorado. • After going 7-6 in 2024, Georgia Tech will return 14 starters, including seven on both offense and defense. • Haynes King will begin his third season as GT’s starting quarterback, throwing for at least 2,100 yards and 14 touchdowns in each of his first two seasons with the Jackets. • Jamal Haynes also returns as the Yellow Jackets’ starting running back, logging over 2,000 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons. • GT has made bowl game appearances in each of the last two seasons. • This is Georgia Tech’s first trip west of the Mississippi River since 2013, when the Yellow Jackets played at BYU. • Colorado is coming off a 9-4 season, but returns just three offensive starters and 14.5% of its total yardage from a year ago. • Colorado is 1-5 all-time against ACC opponents and has not met an ACC team since 2008. The Buffaloes’ lone ACC win came against Clemson in the 1957 Orange Bowl.
Saturday, August 30
Duquesne (0-0, 0-0 NEC) at (RV) Pitt (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
Noon ET; ACCN
Pitt leads series, 5-2
Last Meeting: Duquesne, 21-13 (1939)
Head Coaches
Duquesne: Jerry Schmitt (128-86 in 21st season at DU; 156-107 in 26th season overall)
Pitt: Pat Narduzzi (72-56 in 11th season at Pitt; 72-56 in 11th season overall)
Notes:
• Less than 10 minutes and two miles from each other, Pitt will host Duquesne for the seventh overall meeting between the two schools in football. Pitt leads the series 5-2. • This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 1939. • Pitt’s calling card under head coach Pat Narduzzi has always been defense. The Panthers finished the 2024 regular season ranked fifth nationally in defensive touchdowns (4), sixth in sacks (3.15 per game) and fourth in tackles-for-loss (8.2 per game). • In 2025, the Panthers will be led by preseason All-Americans Kyle Louis on defense and Desmond Reid on offense, while quarterback Eli Holstein returns after a redshirt-freshman year last season that saw him become the first Pitt QB to win his first seven starts since Dan Marino in 1979-80. • A member of the Northeast Conference (NEC), Duquesne received a pair of first-place votes and was picked to finish second in the NEC Football Preseason Coaches Poll. • The Dukes have claimed at least a share of the regular season crown in each of the past two years under head coach Jerry Schmitt, who has led Duquesne to 10 conference championships and three trips to the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 21 seasons as the head coach.
Saturday, August 30
Syracuse (0-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. #24 Tennessee (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Noon ET; ABC
Tennessee leads series, 3-0
Last Meeting: Tennessee, 33-9 (2001)
Head Coaches
Syracuse: Fran Brown (10-3 in 2nd season at SU; 10-3 in 2nd season overall)
Tennessee: Josh Heupel (37-15 in 5th season at UT; 65-23 in 8th season overall)
Notes:
• Meeting in the first of two Aflac Kickoff Games in Atlanta this year, Syracuse is searching for its first win over Tennessee, as the Volunteers lead the series 3-0. • The Orange will play in their first neutral-site game to start a season since 2013, when they opened the year against Penn State in the NY College Classic at MetLife Stadium. • Syracuse has won 10 of its past 11 season openers. The only blemish was a loss at North Carolina in the 2020 opener. • Last season, Syracuse led the country in passing yards per game (370.0), while also ranking in the top 10 of total yards per game, time of possession, fumbles lost and third-down percentage. • Syracuse will start Steve Angeli, a Notre Dame transfer, at quarterback against Tennessee. Angeli played in 21 games for the Fighting Irish, including in the College Football Playoff semifinals and final. • Tennessee went 10-3 (6-2 SEC) in 2024, falling in the College Football Playoff first round to Ohio State. • The Vols have won four in a row over ACC foes, all coming under head coach Josh Heupel.
Saturday, August 30
Fordham (0-0, 0-0 Patriot League) at Boston College (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
2 p.m. ET; ACCNX
Boston College leads series, 14-11-2
Last meeting: Boston College, 21-7 (1954)
Head Coaches
Fordham: Joe Conlin (31-41 in 8th season at Fordham; 31-41 in 8th season overall)
Boston College: Bill O’Brien (7-6 in 2nd season at BC; 22-15 in 4th collegiate season overall)
Notes:
• Boston College and Fordham will meet on the gridiron for the first time since 1954 in the two teams’ season opener on Saturday. • Bill O’Brien is in his second season at BC, where he led the Eagles to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. • BC announced that Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan is the starting quarterback in Week 1. He was ESPN’s No. 36 overall recruit in the Class of 2023 and played in three games at Alabama over the last two years. • Boston College returns seven of the eight defensive backs who played at least 250 snaps last season. That includes safeties KP Price and Carter Davis, the Eagles’ highest-graded returning defenders. • Fordham, looking to improve after last season, finished 2-10 but managed to win two of its last four games. • The Rams were picked to finish eighth in the 2025 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll and are led by linebacker James Conway, who broke the Patriot League career tackles record last year.
Saturday, August 30
Eastern Kentucky (0-0, 0-0 UAC) at (RV) Louisville (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
3 p.m. ET; ACCN
Louisville leads series, 20-8-1
Last meeting: Louisville, 30-3 (2021)
Head Coaches
Eastern Kentucky: Walt Wells (30-26 in 6th season at EKU; 30-26 in 6th season overall)
Louisville: Jeff Brohm (19-8 in 3rd season at UL; 85-52 in 12th season overall)
Notes:
• Louisville holds a 20-8-1 series advantage over Eastern Kentucky, which dates back to 1927. The Cardinals have won the last five meetings, with EKU’s last win coming in 1985. • Louisville’s head coach Jeff Brohm has posted a 19-8 record in his first two seasons — recording the Cardinals’ best two-season mark since 2014 • The Cardinals are looking to win their 15th-straight home opener. Louisville hasn’t lost a home opener since falling 23-16 against Kentucky in the 2010 home opener • The Cardinals have scored over 30 points in the last three contests against the Colonels, including posting 44 points in a win in 2013. • Louisville returns the duo in the backfield of Isaac Brown and Duke Watson, who combined to run for 1,770 yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago. Brown rushed for 1,173 yards and 11 scores, while Watson added 597 yards and eight touchdowns. • Eastern Kentucky head coach Walt Wells is in his sixth season, leading the Colonels to an 8-5 record and a spot in the FCS Playoffs for the 23rd time in program history. • EKU closed out the regular season last year with five straight wins and won five of its final six games of the year.
Saturday, August 30
#8 Alabama (0-0, 0-0 SEC) at (RV) Florida State (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
3:30 p.m. ET; ABC
Alabama leads series, 3-1-1
Last Meeting: Alabama, 24-7 (2017)
Head Coaches
Alabama: Kalen DeBoer (9-4 in 2nd season at ALA; 114- 16 in 11th season overall)
Florida State: Mike Norvell (33-27 in 6th season at FSU; 71-42 in 10th season overall)
Notes:
• This will be the sixth meeting between the Seminoles and Crimson Tide, with Alabama leading the all-time series 3-1-1. Florida State is looking for its first win against Alabama since September 29, 2007. • The Seminoles look to secure their first home win against an AP Top-10 team since October 17, 2020 (W, 31-28, vs. No. 5 North Carolina). • This will be the seventh time that Florida State opens the season against an AP Top-10 team, and the second time in three seasons (2023, W, 45-24, vs. No. 5 LSU in Orlando). • Tommy Castellanos, a Boston College transfer, will be the Seminoles’ starting quarterback. The dual-threat QB made 20 starts for the Eagles, logging 3,614 passing yards and 1,307 rushing yards. • Alabama went 9-4 (5-3 SEC) in 2024, with a trip to the ReliaQuest Bowl. This will be Alabama’s first true road game against an ACC opponent since 2010 (at Duke). • Alabama head coach Kalen Deboer begins his second season with the Crimson Tide and sixth season overall. The former Washington coach boasts a 114-16 career record with stops at the University of Sioux Falls, Fresno State, Washington and now Alabama.
Saturday, August 30
Coastal Carolina (0-0, 0-0 SBC) at Virginia (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
6 p.m. ET; ACCN
Virginia leads series, 1-0
Last Meeting: Virginia, 43-24 (2024)
Head Coaches
Coastal Carolina: Tim Beck (14-12 in 3rd season at CCU; 14-12 in 3rd season overall)
Virginia: Tony Elliott (11-23 in 4th season at UVA; 11-23 in 4th season overall)
Notes:
• Virginia holds a 1-0 series advantage over Coastal Carolina, winning their 2024 meeting, 43-24, in Conway, S.C. • Tony Elliott is beginning his fourth season with Virginia and is coming off a 5-7 season last year. • Virginia returns 15 starters, including eight on the defensive side. The Cavaliers also boast 14 senior starters and 13 senior backups, giving them one of the most experienced teams in the country. • Chandler Morris will be the starting quarterback for the Cavaliers. The North Texas transfer threw for 3,774 yards last year in North Texas’ air raid offense. • The Cavaliers’ offensive line has combined to make 213 career starts, which leads all FBS units. • Coastal Carolina enters its third season under head coach Tim Beck, who has led the Chanticleers to back-to-back bowl appearances over his first two years leading the Teal. • This season, the Chanticleers have a new offensive coordinator (Drew Hollingshead) and defensive coordinator (Jeremiah Johnson).
Saturday, August 30
#9 LSU (0-0, 0-0 SEC) at #4 Clemson (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7:30 p.m. ET; ABC
LSU leads series, 3-1
Last meeting: LSU, 42-25 (2020)
Head Coaches
LSU: Brian Kelly (29-11 in 4th season at LSU; 292-107-2 in 36th season overall)
Clemson: Dabo Swinney (180-47 in 18th season at CU; 180-47 in 18th season overall)
Notes:
• Clemson, which won the 2024 ACC Football Championship Game over SMU, is coming off a trip to the College Football Playoff. • The Tigers begin the season ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll. This marks Clemson’s first AP Top 5 ranking since November 2022. • This is Clemson’s first non-conference home game against an AP Top-10 team since October 2013 (W, 24-22 vs. No. 6 Notre Dame). • Clemson begins the season as the ACC preseason favorite by the media. • Of the seven active FBS quarterbacks with at least 7,000 passing yards, Cade Klubnik is the only one with fewer than 20 interceptions thrown (18). (Stats Perform) • Defensively, Clemson is led by All-Americans T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, who combined for 15.0 tackles-for-loss in 2024. • LSU leads the all-time series 3-1 against Clemson, with the last meeting coming in 2019. • The Tigers went 9-4 (5-3 SEC) in 2024, and went 1-3 against Top 25 opponents. • The matchup features two of the 14 winningest programs in FBS history. The programs have combined for 1,623 wins (815 – LSU (12th all-time) and 808 – Clemson(13th all-time).
Saturday, August 30
East Texas A&M (0-0, 0-0 SLC) at #16 SMU (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
9 p.m. ET; ACCN
First Meeting
Head Coaches
East Texas A&M: Clint Dolezel (4-18 in 3rd season at ETAMU; 4-18 in 3rd collegiate season overall)
SMU: Rhett Lashlee (29-12 in 4th season at SMU; 29-12 in 4th season overall)
Notes:
• This will be the first meeting between the Mustangs and Lions despite being just over 70 miles apart in Texas. • SMU is coming off its first trip to the College Football Playoff and looking to build on a strong first season in the ACC. • The Mustangs fell in the 2024 ACC Football Championship Game to Clemson on a last-second field goal after posting a perfect 8-0 conference record in regular-season play. • Rhett Lashlee begins his fourth season at SMU, boasting a 29-12 overall record, including an 11-3 mark in the Mustangs’ first season in the ACC last year. • Kevin Jennings threw for over 3,200 yards and added more than 300 more on the ground last season. Jennings took over as SMU’s starting quarterback in Week 3, helping the Mustangs win nine straight games. • SMU returns backside safety Isaiah Nwokobia, who finished second on the team with 100 tackles in 2024. • East Texas A&M posted a 3-9 record in 2024, including a 2-4 mark in Southland play. • This contest marks the third consecutive season that the Lions have faced an FBS foe.
Saturday, August 30
California (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at Oregon State (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN
California leads series, 40-37
Last Meeting: California, 44-7 (2024)
Head Coaches
California: Justin Wilcox (42-50 in 9th season at CAL; 42-50 in 9th season overall)
Oregon State: Trent Bray (5-7 in 2nd season at OSU; 5-7 in 2nd season overall)
Notes:
• The former conference rivals have met 77 times previously, including every year since 1995, with the Golden Bears holding a 40-37 advantage in the series. Cal defeated Oregon State, 44-7, last year as non-conference foes. • The Golden Bears have scored 40+ points in their last two meetings against the Beavers. • Justin Wilcox begins his ninth season as the Golden Bears’ head coach and looks to take Cal to its third consecutive bowl game. • True freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagopolutele will be Cal’s starting quarterback to open the season. Sagopolutele set the Hawai’i high school record for most career passing yards with 10,653 and was a 5-star recruit by On3. • Oregon State is looking for its fourth consecutive season-opening win and fifth straight home-opening win to kick off the 2025 season. • Despite starting the 2024 season with a 4-1 record, Oregon State finished the season at 5-7 in its first year under alumnus Trent Bray. • Former Duke standout Maalik Murphy will be Oregon State’s starting quarterback. He passed for 2,933 yards and 26 touchdowns last season for the Blue Devils.
Sunday, August 31
Virginia Tech (0-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. #13 South Carolina (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
3 p.m. ET; ESPN
South Carolina leads series, 11-2-0
Last Meeting: South Carolina, 28-21 (1991)
Head Coaches
Virginia Tech: Brent Pry (16-21 in 4th season at VT; 16-21 in 4th season overall)
South Carolina: Shane Beamer (29-22 in 5th season at SC; 29-22 in 5th season overall)
Notes:
• For the second straight season, Virginia Tech opens the season away from home against an SEC opponent, playing South Carolina in the second of two Aflac Kickoff Games in Atlanta. • The two teams last played in 1991, playing annually from 1986 to 1991 as non-conference opponents. South Carolina leads the series 11-7-2, with Virginia Tech’s last win in the series coming back in 1974. • Virginia Tech and head coach Brent Pry enter the 2025 season with a new offensive and defensive coordinator, a new offensive line coach and 32 new transfers on the roster after a 6-7 record last season. • Last year in 2024, the Hokies played in five one-score games and their seven losses by an average of 6.8 points per game. • South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer is a Virginia Tech alumnus and the son of legendary Hokies coach Frank Beamer. He’s in his fifth year with the Gamecocks and has compiled a 29–22 record. • The Gamecocks ended 2024 with a strong nine-win regular season, a late-season momentum surge that saw them win their last six regular-season games, and a top-20 finish.
Sunday, August 31
#6 Notre Dame (0-0) at #10 Miami (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7:30 p.m. ET; ABC
Notre Dame leads series, 17-8-1
Last meeting: Miami, 41-8 (2017)
Head Coaches
Notre Dame: Marcus Freeman (33-10 in 4th full season at ND; 33-10 in 4th full season overall)
Miami: Mario Cristobal (22-16 in 4th season at UM; 84-76 in 15th season overall)
Notes:
• Miami and Notre Dame meet in a top-10 matchup at Hard Rock Stadium to kick off the 2025 season. The Hurricanes routed Notre Dame 41-8 in the two teams’ last matchup in 2017. • The Hurricanes are in their fourth season under head coach Mario Cristobal, who has led Miami from five wins in Year 1 to seven wins in Year 2 and to 10 wins in Year 3 last year, only the second 10-win season over the last 20 years at Miami. • Miami QB Carson Beck, a Georgia transfer, takes over the reins of a Miami offense that ranked No. 1 in the nation in both yards per game and points per game last year under offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. • Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman enters his fourth full season in 2025, after leading the Irish to a 14-2 record and a national championship game appearance in 2024. • The Irish will have a new QB in redshirt-freshman CJ Carr, who played in one game for Notre Dame last year and has not attempted a pass in his collegiate career. • ND will be led offensively by returner Jeremiyah Love, who rushed for over 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground last year, while wide receiver transfer Malachi Fields is the top wideout for the Irish after a standout career at Virginia.
Monday, September 1
(RV) TCU (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) at North Carolina (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
8 p.m. ET; ESPN
North Carolina leads series, 3-0
Last Meeting: North Carolina, 31-10 (1997)
Head Coaches
TCU: Sonny Dykes (27-13 in 4th season at TCU; 98-76 in 16th season overall)
North Carolina: Bill Belichick (0-0 in 1st season at UNC; 0-0 in 1st collegiate season overall)
Notes:
• One of the biggest games in North Carolina history will kick off on Monday night, as NFL legend Bill Belichick makes his collegiate coaching debut versus TCU in Chapel Hill. • This season, North Carolina has 23 incoming FBS transfers on its current roster, the most in the ACC, and tied for the sixth-most in the FBS. Overall, they have more than 70 new players on the roster for 2025. • South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez, who had 2,559 passing yards and 465 rushing yards in 2024, is the projected starter at quarterback for the Tar Heels. • Defensively, the Tar Heels added several key additions in Pryce Yates (UConn), Thaddeus Dixon (Washington), Khmori House (Washington) and Andrew Simpson (Boise State) to a unit that was decimated by departures to the NFL and transfer portal. • TCU will be led by QB Josh Hoover, who returns after a record-breaking 2024 season, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards. He’s considered one of the top signal-callers in the Big 12 and was ranked No. 9 among all FBS quarterbacks in The Athletic’s preseason list. • In 2023, TCU hosted Colorado’s first game under Deion Sanders. The Horned Frogs lost as a 20.5-point favorite, falling to Colorado 45-42 in the 2023 season opener.
