Thursday, Aug. 29
Western Carolina (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) at No. 24 NC State (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7 p.m. ET; ACC Network
NC State leads series, 7-0
Last meeting: NC State, 41-0 (2019)
Head Coaches:
Western Carolina: Kerwin Bell (17-16 in fourth season at WCU; 110-58 in 16th season overall)
NC State: Dave Doeren (81-58 in 12th season at NCSU; 104-62 in 14th season overall)
Notes:
• NC State begins the season ranked at No. 24 in the AP Poll. It marks just the second time in the past 20 seasons in which the Wolfpack begins the season as a ranked squad, joining 2022.
• The Pack is 8-0 when opening the season at home under Doeren and is 10-1 overall in the Doeren era in its home openers. Last season’s loss to Notre Dame was the only home-opening defeat.
• Six of the first seven games of the season for NC State will take place in North Carolina. The Wolfpack will play five games at home and a neutral site meeting with Tennessee.
• Three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year, Grayson McCall, will be NC State’s quarterback this season. McCall has logged more than 10,000 career passing yards and 88 touchdowns while adding 18 rushing touchdowns and more than 1,100 yards on the ground.
Thursday, Aug. 29
North Carolina A&T (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at Wake Forest (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7 p.m. ET; ACCNX
Wake Forest leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: WF, 42-3 (2004)
Head Coaches:
North Carolina A&T: Vincent Brown (1-10 in second season at NC A&T; 1-10 in second season overall)
Wake Forest: Dave Clawson (63-61 in 11th season at WF; 153-141 in 25th season overall)
Notes:
• Wake Forest looks to bounce back from a 4-8 season in 2023 in the lid-lifter against North Carolina A&T. After starting the season 3-0 in non-conference play, the Deacons dropped eight of their final nine contests last year.
• Entering the 2023 season, the Demon Deacons had appeared in bowl games for seven consecutive seasons.
• Dave Clawson is beginning his 11th season in Winston-Salem, boasting a 63-61 career record at Wake Forest.
• Wake Forest is 10-3 in its past 13 season openers, including an 8-2 mark under Clawson.
• Since the start of the 2016 season, the Demon Deacons boast the third-most wins in the ACC, not counting the COVID-shortened 2020 season. With 53 wins, Wake Forest only trails Clemson (85) and NC State (55).
• The Demon Deacons have won 18 consecutive games over FCS opponents, dating back to 2000.
• The Aggies went 1-10 throughout the 2023 campaign, notching a 28-26 win on the road against Norfolk State. Wake Forest and North Carolina A&T have only met once previously, with the Demon Deacons winning, 42-3, in 2004.
Thursday, Aug. 29
North Carolina (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
8 p.m. ET; FOX
North Carolina leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: UNC, 31-13 (2023)
Head Coaches:
North Carolina: Mack Brown (107-73-1 in 16th season at UNC; 282-149-1 in 36th season overall)
Minnesota: P.J. Fleck (50-34 in eighth season at Minn.; 80-56 in 12th season overall)
Notes:
• In last year’s Week 3 meeting, the Tar Heels defeated the Golden Gophers, 31-13, in Chapel Hill. North Carolina returns to Minneapolis for the second game of a home-and-home series this year.
• The Tar Heels began the 2023 season 6-0 before dropping five of their final seven contests, including the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The Tar Heels cracked the top 10 of the AP Poll on Oct. 15, marking their highest ranking since the 2021 preseason poll.
• Mack Brown is one of three active head coaches to have won a national championship, doing so with Texas in 2005. With 282 career victories, Brown is the second-winningest active FBS coach, trailing LSU’s Brian Kelly by just one.
• Minnesota went 6-7 in 2023, including a 3-6 mark in Big Ten play. Minnesota defeated Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl to improve to a perfect 5-0 in bowl games under P.J. Fleck.
Friday, Aug. 30
Elon (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at Duke (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7:30 p.m. ET; ACC Network
Duke leads series, 7-0-1
Last meeting: Duke, 52-13 (2013)
Head Coaches:
Elon: Tony Trisciani (26-25 in sixth season at Elon; 26-25 in sixth season overall)
Duke: Manny Diaz (0-0 in first season at Duke; 21-15 in fourth season overall)
Notes:
• Manny Diaz prepares to begin his first season leading the Blue Devils. Previously, Diaz posted a 21-15 record in three seasons at Miami from 2019-21.
• Last season, Duke went 8-5 on the season, including a top 10 win over No. 9 Clemson in their season opener. The Blue Devils won the 76 Birmingham Bowl, 17-10, over Troy to end the season.
• The season opener is the first of two straight Friday contests for the Blue Devils. Duke will travel to Evanston, Illinois, to take on Northwestern on Friday, Sept. 6.
• Texas transfer Maalik Murphy has been named the starting quarterback for the Blue Devils. Murphy made two starts for the Longhorns, finishing 40-of-71 passing for 477 yards and three touchdowns.
• Duke is 7-0-1 all-time against Elon with the series dating back to 1920. Duke and Elon went 84 seasons between games before rekindling the matchup in 2010.
• Elon posted a 6-5 record during the 2023 campaign. The Phoenix won three of their final four games, including a 33-27 victory on the road against No. 5 Delaware. Earlier in the year, Elon defeated No. 5 William & Mary, 14-6, at home.
Friday, Aug. 30
TCU (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) at Stanford (0-0 ACC) 10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN TCU leads series, 3-0 Last meeting: TCU, 39-37 (2017)
Head Coaches:
TCU: Sonny Dykes (18-9 in third season at TCU; 89-72 in 15th season overall)
Stanford: Troy Taylor (3-9 in second season at Stanford; 30-8 in third season overall)
Notes:
• Stanford is making its debut as an ACC member after officially joining the league on Aug. 2, 2024.
• The Cardinal went 3-9 in its final season as Pac-12 members. Stanford turned in a comeback for the ages during its road game against Colorado on Oct. 13. Down 29-0 at halftime, the Cardinal came roaring back to win 46-43 in double overtime.
• This is the first of a home-and-home between Stanford and TCU. The Cardinal will make a return trip to Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 4, 2027.
• Sonny Dykes is no stranger to coaching against the Cardinal. Previously, Dykes led Cal for four seasons. In his first season at TCU, Dykes and the Horned Frogs won the Fiesta Bowl before falling in the CFP National Championship.
Saturday, Aug. 31
No. 14 Clemson (0-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. No. 1 Georgia (0-0, 0-0 SEC) Aflac Kickoff Game; Atlanta, Ga.
Noon ET; ABC
Georgia leads series, 43-18-4
Last meeting: Georgia, 10-3 (2021)
Head Coaches:
Clemson: Dabo Swinney (170-43 in 17th season at CU; 170-43 in 17th season overall)
Georgia: Kirby Smart (94-16 in ninth season at UGA; 94-16 in ninth season overall)
Notes:
• Clemson has won 12 of its last 14 season openers and boasts a 95-24-8 record all-time in season debuts.
• The Tigers went 9-4 in 2023 with a 4-4 record in ACC play. Clemson has won at least six games at home for each of the last 13 years, the longest streak in the country.
• Clemson and Alabama are the only programs in the country with active streaks of at least 13 consecutive seasons with at least nine wins.
• With his 12th career bowl win in the 2023 Gator Bowl, Dabo Swinney broke Bobby Bowden’s ACC record (11) for the most career bowl wins leading an ACC program.
• NC State leads the ACC in scoring defense against league opponents, allowing just 14.5 points per game.
• Clemson improved to 30-12 against AP Top 25 teams in the College Football Playoff era (since 2014). Clemson is the only ACC program to win 30 games against AP-ranked opponents in that span.
• Georgia is 8-0 in season openers during the Kirby Smart era. The Bulldogs last season-opening loss came when No. 8 Clemson upset No. 5 Georgia, 38-35, in Clemson.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Kent State (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Pitt (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
Noon ET; ESPNU
Pitt leads series, 7-0
Last meeting: Pitt, 43-3 (2003)
Head Coaches:
Kent State: Kenni Burns (1-11 in second season at KSU; 1-11 in second season overall)
Pittsburgh: Pat Narduzzi (65-50 in 10th season at Pitt ; 65-50 in 10th season overall)
Notes:
• 2024 marks Pat Narduzzi’s 10th season leading Pitt. His 65 career victories rank second in school history.
• Under Narduzzi, the Panthers have defeated at least one Top-25 team in eight consecutive seasons. In 2023, Pitt beat No. 14/15 Louisville, 38-21, on Oct. 14, 2023. Narduzzi has knocked off 10 Top-25 opponents during his tenure.
• Pitt legend Larry Fitzgerald was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2024. In two seasons, Fitzgerald recorded 161 catches for 2,677 yards and a Pitt-record 34 receiving touchdowns.
• Pitt is a perfect 7-0 all-time against Kent State. The most recent meeting came in 2003 and was a 43-3 victory in favor of the Panthers.
• Kent State finished 1-11 in 2023 with a win at home over Central Connecticut State on Sept. 16, 2023.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Virginia Tech (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at Vanderbilt (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Noon ET; ESPN
VT leads series, 6-3
Last meeting: VT, 18-0 (1989)
Head Coaches:
Virginia Tech: Brent Pry (10-14 in second season at VT; 10-14 in second season overall)
Vanderbilt: Clark Lea (9-27 in fourth season at Vandy; 9-27 in fourth season overall)
Notes
• Virginia Tech enters the season receiving votes in the preseason AP Poll. The Hokies look to crack the top 25 for the first time since week three of the 2021 season.
• Brent Pry is heading into his third season as the Hokies’ head coach. Pry and the Hokies won three of the final four games of the 2023 slate, including the Military Bowl over No. 23 Tulane.
• Saturday will be the 10th meeting all-time between the Hokies and the Commodores. Vanderbilt leads the series 3-2 in Nashville with the Hokies winning each of the last two contests. The two teams haven’t met since 1989.
• After winning its season opener in 2023, Virginia Tech dropped its final three non-conference games. The Hokies posted a 5-3 record in ACC play to earn bowl eligibility.
• Vanderbilt is coming off of a 2-10 campaign in 2023, including a winless 0-8 mark in SEC play. The Commodores have not been bowl-eligible since the 2018 season.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Austin Peay (0-0, 0-0 UAC) at [RV] Louisville (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
Noon ET; ACC Network
First Meeting
Last meeting: N/A
Head Coaches:
Austin Peay: Jeff Faris (0-0 in first season at APSU; 0-0 in first season overall)
Louisville: Jeff Brohm (10-4 in second season at UL ; 76-48 in 11th season overall)
Notes:
• After appearing in the ACC Football Championship Game in 2023, Louisville returns 11 players who made at least five starts last season.
• A total of 41 of Louisville’s 85 scholarship players are in their first year with the program. The Cardinals added 27 players via the transfer portal while also signing 14 high school players.
• Louisville went 10-4 in Jeff Brohm’s first season at the helm, including a 7-1 mark in ACC play. The Cardinals earned a trip to the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl.
• Last year, the Governors went 9-3 overall and fell to No. 18 Chattanooga in the FCS Playoffs. Austin Peay went a perfect 6-0 through UAC play.
• Jeff Faris is in his first season as Austin Peay’s head coach. Previously, Faris served as UCLA’s tight end’s coach and won the AFCA FBS Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2018 while on staff with Duke.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Ohio (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Syracuse (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
3:30 p.m. ET; ACC Network
Syracuse leads series, 3-0
Last meeting: Syracuse, 29-9 (2021)
Head Coaches:
Ohio: Tim Albin (23-16 in fourth season at Ohio; 48-24 in seventh season overall)
Syracuse: Fran Brown (0-0 in first season at SU; 0-0 in first season overall)
Notes:
• Fran Brown, a New Jersey native, is set to lead the Orange in his first season. Brown comes from Georgia, where he was the defensive backs coach of the 2022 national champions.
• Syracuse went 6-7 in 2023, including a trip to the Boca Raton Bowl. Syracuse beat Wake Forest in the final week of the season to become bowl-eligible.
• Syracuse and Ohio will meet for just the fourth time when the two teams take the field on Saturday. The Orange have blanked the Bobcats in both meetings in New York, outscoring the opponent 111-0.
• Ohio posted a 10-3 record last year, including a 6-2 mark in MAC play. In addition to a 41-21 victory over Georgia Southern in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, the Bobcats season was highlighted by a 10-7 win over Big 12 member Iowa State.
• Ohio head coach Tim Albin previously led his alma mater, Northwestern Oklahoma State, to the 1999 NAIA National Championship
Saturday, Aug. 31
No. 19 Miami (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at Florida (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
3:30 p.m. ET; ABC
Miami leads series, 29-27
Last meeting: Florida, 24-20 (2019)
Head Coaches:
Miami: Mario Cristobal (12-13 in third season at UM; 74-73 in 14th season overall)
Florida: Billy Napier (11-14 in third season at UF; 51-26 in seventh season overall)
Notes:
• Miami looks to snap Florida’s NCAA-best 33-game home opener winning streak on Saturday. The Gators’ streak dates back to 1989.
• Saturday’s contest will be the 57th all-time meeting between the fierce in-state rivals. The Hurricanes hold a 29-27 advantage in the series.
• Head coaches Mario Cristobal and Billy Napier spent four seasons together under Nick Saban at Alabama. This will be the first time the duo meets as head coaches.
• Quarterback Cam Ward looks to revitalize the Miami offense. The Washington State transfer has thrown for nearly 14,000 yards in his career, adding 135 total touchdowns.
• The Canes posted a 7-6 record in 2023, including three wins in league play. Miami notched wins over No. 23 Texas A&M and Clemson on its way to a Pinstripe Bowl meeting with Rutgers.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Richmond (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at Virginia (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
6 p.m. ET; ACCNX
Virginia leads series, 30-3-2
Last meeting: UVA, 34-17 (2022)
Head Coaches:
Richmond: Russ Huesman (42-33 in eighth season at Richmond; 101-70 in 16th season overall)
Virginia: Tony Elliott (6-16 in third season at UVA; 6-16 in third season overall)
Notes:
• Tony Elliott is set to begin his third season as Virginia’s head coach. The Cavaliers have won three games in each of Elliott’s first two seasons.
• Anthony Colandrea will be Virginia’s starting QB for the season opener. Colandrea played in eight games last season as a true freshman, setting the school’s freshman single-season records for completions (154), passing yards (1,958) & total offense (2,183). He threw for more passing yards than any other true freshman Power 5 quarterback.
• Saturday will be the 36th all-time meeting between the Cavaliers and the Spiders. The Cavaliers enter with a five-game winning streak in the series dating back to 1947.
• Virginia is looking to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2019 when the Cavaliers appeared in the Orange Bowl.
• Richmond posted a 9-4 record in 2023, reaching the second round of the FCS Playoffs. The Spiders defeated No. 13/16 North Carolina Central in the opening round before falling to No. 5 UAlbany.
Saturday, Aug. 31
UC Davis (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky) at Cal (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
8 p.m. ET; ACCNX
Cal leads series, 11-0
Last meeting: Cal, 34-13 (2022)
Head Coaches:
UC Davis: Tim Plough (0-0 in first season at UC-D; 0-0 in first season overall)
Cal: Justin Wilcox (36-43 in eighth season at Cal; 36-43 in eighth season overall)
Notes:
• Cal will be making its debut as a member of the ACC on Saturday versus FCS foe UC Davis.
• Cal went 6-7 during its final season as Pac-12 members, closing the regular season on a three-game winning streak. Cal also made a trip to the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, where the Golden Bears met Texas Tech.
• Preseason All-American running back Jaydn Ott will be the focal point of the Cal offense. Ott has logged more than 2,200 yards throughout his two-year college career.
• Justin Wilcox has posted a 36-43 career record in his first seven seasons leading the Golden Bears. Under Wilcox’s watch, Cal has made three bowl game appearances.
• UC Davis posted a 7-4 record in 2023, including a 5-3 mark in the Big Sky. The Aggies closed the year on a three-game winning streak. The Aggies averaged 389.2 yards of total offense throughout the 2023 season.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Georgia State (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) at Georgia Tech (1-0, 1-0 ACC)
8 p.m. ET; ACC Network
First Meeting
Last meeting: N/A
Head Coaches:
Georgia State: Dell McGee (0-0 in first season at GSU; 1-0 in first full season overall)
Georgia Tech: Brent Key (12-10 in third season at GT; 12-10 in second season overall)
Notes:
• Georgia Tech defeated No. 10 Florida State, 24-21, in its season opener, moving to a perfect 5-0 under Brent Key against ACC opponents ranked in the AP top 25. It was GT’s first top-10 win since 2015, which was also over FSU.
• GT averaged 5.3 yards per carry, totaling 190 yards on the ground in the win. Jamal Haynes led with 75 yards, while quarterback Haynes King added 54 yards.
• With a 1-0 record in conference play, GT currently sits atop the ACC standings.
• Georgia Tech limited Florida State, which averaged 401.6 yards per game in 2023, to just 291 yards of total offense.
• Georgia State went 7-6 in 2023, including a 45-22 victory over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. It was the third bowl victory in four years for the Panthers.
• Dell McGee will make his head coaching debut at Georgia State after spending the last eight years with Georgia. McGee was the run game coordinator and running backs coach under Kirby Smart. His 1-0 career record comes in the 2015 GoDaddy.com bowl as Georgia Southern’s interim head coach.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Houston Christian (0-0, 0-0 UAC) at SMU (1-0, 0-0 ACC)
8 p.m. ET; ACCNX
First Meeting
Last meeting: N/A
Head Coaches:
HCU: Jason Bachtel (0-0 in first season at HCU; 14-6 in third season overall)
SMU: Rhett Lashlee (19-9 in third season at SMU; 19-9 in third season overall)
Notes:
• SMU won its first contest as a member of the ACC, 29- 24, over Nevada in Week 0. It also marked the Mustangs’ first-ever win in Reno.
• SMU outscored Nevada 16-0 in the fourth quarter
• The Mustangs are now 10-1 in their last 11 contests and have won six consecutive road games and six consecutive season openers.
• SMU completed passes to eight different receivers in the victory. At least seven different receivers have caught a pass in 18 straight games for the Mustangs.
• Tight end RJ Maryland posted career highs in both receptions (8) and receiving yards (162). Maryland also tied the career receiving TD record by a tight end (14).
• Houston Christian posted a 6-5 record in 2023, including a 4-3 record in Southland Conference play. The Huskies won four of their final five contests to close the year.
Monday, Sept. 2
Boston College (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at No. 10 Florida State (0-1, 0-1 ACC)
7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN
Florida State leads series, 16-5
Last meeting: FSU, 31-29 (2023)
Head Coaches:
Boston College: Bill O’Brien (0-0 in first season at BC; 15-9 in third season overall)
Florida State: Mike Norvell (31-18 in fifth season at FSU; 69-33 in ninth season overall)
Notes:
• Florida State fell in its season opener, 24-21, to Georgia Tech on a last-second field goal, snapping a 12-game winning streak in ACC play.
• Former Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien begins his first season leading Boston College during the Labor Day showdown. O’Brien posted a 52-48 career record with four trips to the playoffs during his NFL career. Previously, he led Penn State to a 15-9 mark over two years.
• Since 2010, Florida State has won 12 of its 13 meetings against Boston College. However, four of the last five contests have been decided by one score.
• BC’s Thomas Castellanos rushed for 1,113 yards last season for the Eagles, the second-most among all FBS quarterbacks. He produced a 2,000-yard passing, 1,000- yard rushing season, just the fifth such season by an ACC quarterback since 1996.
• D.J. Uiagalelei completed 19-of-27 passes for 193 yards in his first game at FSU. Uiagalelei completed passes to eight different receivers, led by Ja’Khi Douglas with four catches for 55 yards.
