2024 SCHEDULE – WEEK 3
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
TIME, TV SIRIUSXM APP/WEB
Louisiana Tech at NC State
Noon ET, ACCN 162 or 194 956 or 983
Series: NC State leads series, 2-0.
Last meeting: NC State, 34-27 (2021)
ACCN: Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Orlando Franklin (analyst), Morgan Uber (sideline)
Memphis at Florida State
Noon ET, ESPN 119, 193, or 381 955 or 971
Series: Florida State leads series, 10-7-1;
Last meeting: Florida State, 35-3 (1990)
ESPN: Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), Kris Budden (sideline)
#24 Boston College at #6 Missouri
12:45 p.m. ET, SECN 161, 190, or 371 371 or 960
Series: Boston College leads series, 1-0;
Last meeting: Boston College, 41-34 (2021)
SECN: Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
West Virginia at Pittsburgh
3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 119, 139, 193, or 198 952 or 955
Series: Pitt leads series, 62-41-3;
Last meeting: West Virginia, 17-6 (2023)
ESPN2: Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline)
Ball State at #10 Miami
3:30 p.m. ET, ACCN 162 or 194 956 or 989
Series: First Meeting;
Last meeting: N/A
ACCN: Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)
VMI at Georgia Tech
3:30 p.m. ET, ACCNX / ESPN+ 113 or 202 964
Series: Georgia Tech leads series, 14-1;
Last meeting: Georgia Tech, 34-7 (1988)
ACCNX: Shawn Kenney (play-by-play), Forrest Conoly (analyst)
NC Central at North Carolina
6 p.m. ET, ACCNX / ESPN+ 103 or 206 968
Series: First Meeting;
Last meeting: N/A
ACCNX: Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play), Charlie Strong (analyst), Ashley Stroehlein (sideline)
UConn at Duke
6 p.m. ET, ACCNX / ESPN+ 94, 205 or 390 967 or 980
Series: UConn leads series, 2-1;
Last meeting: Duke, 41-7 (2023)
ACCNX: Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Steve Addazio (analyst), Marilyn Payne (sideline)
Virginia Tech at Old Dominion
6 p.m. ET, ESPN+ 146 or 204 966
Series: Virginia Tech leads series, 3-2;
Last meeting: Virginia Tech, 36-17 (2023)
ESPN+: Chip Tarkenton (play-by-play), Andy Mashaw (analyst)
#5 Ole Miss at Wake Forest
6:30 p.m. ET, The CW 132, 192, or 371 371 or 962
Series: Wake Forest leads series, 2-0;
Last meeting: Wake Forest, 30-28 (2008)
The CW: Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst), Treavor Scales (sideline)
Maryland at Virginia
8 p.m. ET, ACCN 119, 138, 193, or 196 955 or 958
Series: Maryland leads series, 45-32-2;
Last meeting: Maryland, 42-14 (2023)
ACCN: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Dana Boyle (sideline)
San Diego State at California
10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN 371 or 390 371 or 980
Series: Series is tied, 4-4;
Last meeting: San Diego State, 45-40 (2016)
ESPN: Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
ACC NOTES
GREATNESS JUST GOT GREATER
The ACC Board of Directors voted on Sept. 1, 2023, to formally admit the University of California (Cal), Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Stanford University to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Cal, SMU and Stanford joined the ACC as full members with full voting participation effective July 1, 2024 (SMU) and August 2, 2024 (Cal and Stanford). The decision followed the submission of letters of application from all three institutions.
The additions of Cal, SMU and Stanford enhance and strengthen the ACC academically, athletically and financially and create a true national conference that spans coast to coast. The incoming universities enrich the league’s competitiveness in all sports and further demonstrate the ACC’s commitment to broad-based programs for both women and men. n Cal, SMU and Stanford will begin competing in the ACC across their respective sponsored sports starting this year, 2024-25.
GREATNESS IS WHAT WE DO
The ACC announced its new creative campaign, “ACCOMPLISH GREATNESS,” a multi-part brand campaign highlighting the vast success of the ACC’s athletics and academics alike ahead of the ACC’s official college football season on Week 1 of last year. The campaign is set to commence its second year around the start of the 2024 ACC football season.
FOUR TEAMS RANKED IN MOST RECENT AP TOP 25 POLL
Four ACC teams were ranked in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll (September 8). Miami continued its climb, moving into the top 10 this week at No. 10. Louisville and Clemson both moved up three spots to No. 19 and No. 22, respectively, while Boston College jumped into the top 25 at No. 24.
Miami jumped into the top 10 of the AP Poll for the first time since the 2020 season. The Hurricanes were last ranked in the top 10 at No. 9 in the Week 14 poll (December 6, 2020). n Boston College is ranked in the AP Top 25 this week for the first time since coming in at No. 22 in the Week 12 poll in 2018 (November 11, 2018). n Three other ACC teams received votes in the poll – Syracuse (63), North Carolina (7) and California (3).
TRIO OF TEAMS RANKED IN LATEST COACHES POLL
Three ACC teams were ranked in the latest top 25 of the US LBM Coaches Poll, powered by USA TODAY Sports (September 8). Miami moved up three spots to No. 12, while Clemson climbed two spots to No. 20. Louisville also moved up three spots to No. 21. n Six other ACC teams received votes in the coaches poll – Boston College (36), Syracuse (33), NC State (10), California (5), North Carolina (5) and Pitt (2).
1 OF 2 TOP-25 MATCHUPS AGAIN, THIS TIME IN WEEK 3
For the second consecutive week, the ACC will be part of one of the only two top-25 matchups, when No. 24 Boston College travels to No. 6 Missouri on Saturday, September 14, at 12:45 p.m. ET. Top-25 Matchups Thus Far This Season Matchup Time/Result #14 Clemson vs. #1 Georgia UGA, 34-3 #7 Notre Dame at #20 Texas A&M ND, 23-13 #23 USC vs. #13 LSU USC, 27-20 #3 Texas at #10 Michigan Texas, 31-12 #14 Tennessee vs. #24 NC State UT, 51-10 #24 Boston College at #6 Missouri Sept. 14 – 12:45 p.m. ET n In addition to the top-25 matchup, Wake Forest will host No. 5 Ole Miss on Saturday, September 14, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
ACC IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
Through Week 2 of the 2024 college football season, the ACC is 23-5 overall in non-conference play and has posted the second-best winning percentage in non-conference play among Power 4 conferences at 82.1 percent.
The ACC has recorded five wins against its peer conferences in the Power 4, with all five wins coming on the road (5-1). The ACC has one non-conference road loss versus a Power 4 opponent this year. Non-Conference Power 4 Wins on the Road Date Matchup Result 8/29/24 North Carolina at Minnesota W, 19-17 8/31/24 #19 Miami at Florida W, 41-17 9/6/24 Duke at Northwestern W, 26-20 (2OT) 9/7/24 Pitt at Cincinnati W, 28-27 9/7/24 California at Auburn W, 21-14 n Overall, the ACC has five non-conference wins versus fellow Power 4 conference foes (5-5), which is tied for the most among all four leagues.
3 WEEKS IN, 3 TOP-25 WINS
With the first three weeks of the season (Week 0, Week 1 and Week 2 complete), the ACC has already recorded three wins over AP Top 25 teams this season, albeit all three coming in conference play.
The three Top-25 ranked wins are tied for the most among all FBS conferences (SEC) and makeup over 27 percent of all the Top-25 wins across FBS football this season (11).
In Week 0, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeated No. 10 Florida State 24-21 on a 44-yard field goal as time expired at the Aer Lingus Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland (August 24).
With the Top 10 win, Georgia Tech moved to 5-0 against nationally ranked ACC opponents under head coach Brent Key.
The Top 10 win was the first for the Yellow Jackets since GT defeated No. 9 Florida State on October 24, 2015, in what has been named the “Miracle on Techwood Drive”.
The Top 10 win was Georgia Tech’s first in a season opener since a 24-21 win at No. 4 Alabama on September 12, 1981.
The Boston College Eagles capped Week 1 of the college football season with a 28-13 road win over No. 10 Florida State on Labor Day (September 2).
BC earned its first win over a Top-10 team since defeating No. 9 USC in 2014 and opened the year with a top-10 win for the first time since taking down No. 7 Texas in 1976. n Georgia Tech and Boston College became two of just six unranked teams to beat an AP Top 10 conference opponent in its season opener in the last 40 years.
Syracuse picked up its first Top-25 win under first-year head coach Fran Brown and the Orange’s first ranked win since 2022 with a 31-28 home win over No. 23 Georgia Tech in ACC play on Saturday, September 7.
CONFERENCE PLAY HIATUS FOR WEEK 3
The ACC, the only conference to have played conference games in each of the first three weeks (Week 0, Week 1 and Week 2) of the season, will have a hiatus in league play in Week 3, with all 12 games coming in non-conference play. ACC Conference Games in Weeks 0-2 Date Matchup Result 8/24/24 #10 Florida State vs. Georgia Tech GT, 24-21 9/2/24 Boston College at #10 Florida State BC, 28-13 9/7/24 #23 Georgia Tech at Syracuse SU, 31-28 9/7/24 Virginia at Wake Forest UVA, 31-30 n Following the Week 3 hiatus in conference play, the ACC will have four conference games in Week 4, including the first-ever ACC league games for both Stanford and Cal. ACC Conference Games in Week 4 Date Matchup TIME / NETWORK 9/20/24 Stanford at Syracuse 7:30 p.m. ET / ESPN 9/21/24 NC State at Clemson Noon ET / ABC 9/21/24 Georgia Tech at Louisville 3:30 p.m. ET / TBA 9/21/24 Cal at Florida State 7 p.m. ET / TBA
CLOSE CALLS CONTINUE IN ACC PLAY
Over the last few years, the ACC has been known for close games each year throughout conference play. Prior to the start of this season, the ACC has had 73 league games decided by eight points or less over the last three years (2021-23).
The 73 one-touchdown score games come over 168 total conference games during the three-year span, 43.5 percent.
The trend has continued this season in 2024, as three of the four ACC league games thus far this season have been decided by less than eight points. Close Calls in ACC Play Since 2021 Year One-Score Games ACC Games Pct. 2021 25 56 44.6 2022 24 56 42.9 2023 24 56 42.9 2024 3 4 75.0
AROUND THE ACC
Boston College: The Eagles returned to the Associated Press Top 25 Poll with a No. 24 ranking in this week’s poll (September 8). The Eagles are 2-0 with wins over No. 10 Florida State on the road and a home shutout of Duquesne in the home opener. BC was last ranked in the polls at No. 20 on Nov. 12, 2018. Boston College ranks seventh nationally in rushing defense (40.5) and ninth in rushing offense (282.5). The Eagles are also 10th in scoring defense (6.5) and 23rd in scoring offense (42.0). BC is also first in the nation in team passing efficiency (245.83).
California: The Golden Bears recorded their first win ever against Auburn in their first-ever game played at Auburn last week. Cal has won four of its last five games against SEC teams with the lone loss in the stretch the home loss to Auburn in 2023. Cal leads the nation with eight takeaways this season, highlighted by five takeaways at Auburn, most since also getting five in a 2018 regular-season home win over Colorado. In 2023, Cal tied for the nation’s lead with 28 takeaways (12 interceptions).
Clemson: The Tigers bounced back from the season-opening loss to No. 1 Georgia two weeks ago in a big way in the home opener versus App State. Clemson reached 700 yards of total offense for the seventh time in team history and for the first time since 2019 in the win over the Mountaineers. The Tigers’ 712 yards of offense were the sixth-most in school history, while the 460 passing yards also ranked sixth in school history. Clemson’s 66 points were tied for the 14th-most in school history. It was Clemson’s 25th game with 60 or more points all-time and its ninth such game under Dabo Swinney.
Duke: With the Blue Devils’ road win at Northwestern, Duke improved to 2-0 for the third consecutive season, a first for the program since 2013-15, and just the second time since 1956. The Blue Devils finished with 11 tackles-for-loss in the win over the Wildcats, bringing their season total to 27.0 (13.5 TFL/game) which leads all FBS.
Florida State: The Seminoles will play their first non-conference game of 2024 this week at home versus Memphis after opening with two ACC games to start a season for the first time since 2003 (excluding 2020). Florida State was the only team in the country to open with two conference games and the only member of a P4 conference to open with two P4 opponents. FSU’s Mike Norvell was the head coach at Memphis from 2016-19, leading the Tigers to four consecutive bowl games.
Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech’s offensive line play has been stellar this season, as the frontline unit did not allow a sack for the third-consecutive game to open the season in the road game at Syracuse last week. It marks the first time that Tech has gone three straight games without surrendering a sack since 2014. The Yellow Jackets are one of 15 teams to not have allowed a sack this season and the only team of those 15 to have played more than two games to date.
Louisville: The Cardinals’ offense ranks third nationally in scoring with an average of 55.5 points per game and is fourth in total offense with an average of 590.5 yards per game following back-to-back home wins over Austin Peay and Jacksonville State. The Cards reached 500 yards of total offense in back-to-back games for the first time since 2021 in back-to-back games versus Wake Forest and Virginia. Louisville also scored seven or more touchdowns in back-to-back games for the first time since doing so in each of the first four games of the 2016 season.
Miami: Following a 56-9 win over Florida A&M last week, the Hurricanes moved up two spots to No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25, while also ascending three spots to No. 12 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. The Hurricanes cracked the top 10 for the first time since December 6, 2020, when Miami checked in ninth nationally. The Canes rank in the top 25 nationally in both total offense (11th – 539.0 ypg) and total defense (21st – 225.5 ypg). Quarterback Cam Ward has been spreading the wealth, as more than 10 players have caught at least one pass in each of the Canes’ first two games of the season.
North Carolina: Graduate defensive lineman Jahvaree Ritzie leads the nation with five sacks through two games. Overall, the Carolina defense as a whole is also getting after the quarterback, as the Tar Heels rank eighth in the nation in team sacks with 4.0 per game after two wins. The Heels are also averaging 6.5 TFLs per game.
NC State: The Wolfpack return home to host Louisiana Tech this week, where they have won 24 of its last 28 games inside Carter-Finley Stadium. Receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion crossed the 1,000 receiving yards mark for his career last week versus Tennessee in only his 15th career game. Only Koren Robinson reached that milestone mark quicker in his career for the Wolfpack, doing it in just 13 games from 1999-2000.
Pittsburgh: The Panthers are 2-0 for the first time since its 2021 ACC championship season. Pitt is coming off a dramatic 28-27 win at Big 12 foe Cincinnati, rallying from a 21-point second-half deficit last Saturday. Transfer running back Desmond Reid became the first Pitt player on record to compile 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in a game in the road win over the Bearcats last week. Reid leads the nation in all-purpose yards (244.0 per game) and ranks fifth in rushing (146.5 per game; 293 total). Reid and redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein have helped to turn the Pitt offense around, as the Panthers rank 12th nationally in total offense with an average of 534.0 yards per game this season. Last year, Pitt finished the year ranked 114th in total offense with an average of 317.9 yards per game.
SMU: The Mustangs’ kicker Collin Rogers set a single-game record, tied a career record and set a new career-long in SMU’s 18-15 loss at home to BYU last week. The junior from Prattville, Ark. delivered on all five of his field goal attempts to score all 15 points for the Mustangs in the loss. The five field goals broke a record that Rogers tied in the American Athletic Conference championship game at Tulane last season. He also tied the SMU career record, joining Eddie Garcia (1978-81) and Chase Hover (2011-13) with 44 makes. Rogers leads all FBS with eight field goals this year.
Stanford: The Cardinal enter an open week this week coming off a 41-7 win at home over Cal Poly, marking second-year head coach Troy Taylor’s first home win as the head coach at Stanford. In the four wins under Coach Taylor over the last two seasons, Stanford is allowing an average of just 39 rushing yards per game to opponents (156 yards in four wins). Following the open week, Stanford will play its first ACC game when the Cardinal travels to the JMA Wireless Dome to take on Syracuse on Friday, September 20, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Syracuse: Transfer quarterback Kyle McCord has been stellar in his first season at Syracuse. Through two games, McCord leads the nation in passing touchdowns (8), ranks second in completions per game (29.5 per game), third in passing yards (735), fourth in total offense (372.0 per game) and fourth in points responsible for (48). McCord set new career highs with 32 completions and 381 yards and tied his personal best of four touchdown passes in the win over the Yellow Jackets last week, aiding first-year head coach Fran Brown in recording his first ACC win.
Virginia: The Cavaliers’ win at Wake Forest last Saturday could be a turning point in the program. The win snapped a five-game losing skid in the series with Wake Forest and was the first win in Winston-Salem since 2002. With the win, the Cavaliers won their first ACC opener on the road since knocking off Pitt in 2019 and ended their streak of consecutive losses in ACC openers at three. Virginia is off to its first 2-0 start since 2021 and only the third since the 2013 season.
Virginia Tech: The Hokies’ 31-14 win at home over Marshall last week marked the 372nd consecutive game during which Virginia Tech has scored. The Hokies are in fourth place in both the all-time and active streak lists. However, it is how the Hokies scored that is impressive, scoring points on a punt return for a touchdown, a field goal, a rushing touchdown from a running back, a rushing touchdown from a quarterback and a passing touchdown.
Wake Forest: Under Dave Clawson, the Demon Deacons are a perfect 4-0 against SEC opponents, including going 2-0 in 2022. Wake Forest will look to build on Hank Bachmeier’s first career start for the Deacs last week, as the veteran quarterback completed 27 of 42 pass attempts for 403 yards and a touchdown in the ACC opener against Virginia. WF’s offense ranks first nationally in red zone offense, scoring all 12 times that the Demon Deacons have been inside the opponent’s 20-yard line this season.
