2024 SCHEDULE – WEEK 5
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
TIME, TV
SIRIUSXM APP/WEB
Virginia Tech at #7 Miami
7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
84 or 371 84 or 371
Series: Miami leads series, 25-15;
Last meeting: Miami, 20-14 (2022)
ESPN: Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
TIME, TV
SIRIUSXM APP/WEB
Western Kentucky at Boston College
Noon ET, ACCN
371 371 or 983
Series: First Meeting;
Last meeting: N/A
ACCN: Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Orlando Franklin (analyst), Morgan Uber (sideline)
Holy Cross at Syracuse
Noon ET, ACCNX / ESPN+
139 or 194 956
Series: Syracuse leads series, 24-5;
Last meeting: Syracuse, 41-3 (2019)
ACCNX: Noah Reed (play-by-play), Craig Haubert (analyst)
Northern Illinois at NC State
Noon ET, The CW
137, 193, or 386 955 or 976
Series: NC State leads series, 1-0;
Last meeting: NC State, 41-14 (1997)
The CW: Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst), Caleb Gebhart (sideline)
#15 Louisville at #16 Notre Dame
3:30 p.m. ET, Peacock
85 or 129 85 or 129
Series: Series is tied, 2-2;
Last meeting: Louisville, 33-20 (2023)
Peacock: Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst), Zora Stephenson (sideline)
Louisiana at Wake Forest
3:30 p.m. ET, ACCN 371 371 or 988 Series: First Meeting; Last meeting: N/A ACCN: Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)
North Carolina at Duke
4 p.m. ET, ESPN2
137, 193, or 385 955 or 975
Series: North Carolina leads series, 65-41-4;
Last meeting: North Carolina, 47-45 (2023)
ESPN2: Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline)
Stanford at #17 Clemson
7 p.m. ET, ESPN
139, 194, or 384 956 or 974
Series: Clemson leads series, 1-0;
Last meeting: Clemson, 27-21 (1986)
ESPN: Mark Jones (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Quint Kessenich (sideline)
Florida State at SMU
8 p.m. ET, ACCN
137, 193, or 371 371 or 955
Series: First Meeting;
Last meeting: N/A
ACCN: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Dana Boyle (sideline)
ACC NOTES
THREE TEAMS RANKED IN LATEST AP TOP 25 POLL
The ACC has three teams ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll this week (September 22), the same three teams that were in the poll last week. All three teams moved up in this week’s poll – Miami (No. 7), Louisville (No. 15), and Clemson (No. 17).
Miami is in the top 10 of the AP Poll for the third consecutive week this season. Prior to this year, the Hurricanes were last ranked in the top 10 at No. 9 in the Week 14 poll in the 2020 season (December 6, 2020). Sunday’s No. 7 ranking is tied for Miami’s highest ranking in the AP poll since October 4, 2020, when the Hurricanes also checked in seventh nationally.
With their conference home wins last week, Louisville and Clemson both climbed up four spots this week.
Three other teams received votes in the poll – Boston College (55), Pitt (37) and SMU (2).
ACC FIRST TO 800 WINS
Clemson became just the 14th FBS program, and first ACC program, to win 800 games with its 59-35 home win over NC State in the Textile Bowl on September 21.
Four other ACC schools in Virginia Tech (775), Pitt (765), Georgia Tech (759) and Syracuse (745) rank in the top 25 among the programs with the most all-time wins in FBS history.
WEEK 4 – LIGHTING OF THE SCOREBOARD
Week 4 saw an ACC-record 743 points scored combined by the 16 ACC teams that played. n Seven teams scored 40 points or more on the week, highlighted by 73 points from Pitt in a 73-17 win over Youngstown State
ACC IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
Through Week 4 of the 2024 college football season, the ACC is 37-11 overall in non-conference play. n Overall, the ACC has eight non-conference wins versus fellow Power 4 conference foes. n The ACC has recorded five non-conference wins over the other Power 4 conferences on the road.
Week 5 features five non-conference games for ACC teams, highlighted by a top-20 matchup between No. 15 Louisville and No. 16 Notre Dame on Saturday, September 28, at 3:30 p.m. ET in South Bend, Indiana.
CONFERENCE PLAY CONTINUES TO RAMP UP IN WEEK 5
The ACC was 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 to start the year.
For the second consecutive week, the ACC will host four conference games, including another ACC game in primetime on ESPN on Friday night, September 27.
CLOSE CALLS CONTINUE IN ACC PLAY
The ACC has been known for close games each year throughout conference play the last few years. Prior to the start of this season, the ACC had 73 league games decided by eight points or less over the last three years (2021-23).
The 73 one-touchdown score games came over 168 total conference games during the three-year span, a mark of 43.5 percent.
The trend has continued this season in 2024, as five of the eight ACC league games to date have been decided by less than eight points.
AROUND THE ACC
Boston College: In the Eagles’ win at home over Michigan State last week in the 11th Annual Red Bandanna Game to honor Welles Crowther ’99, Treshaun Ward (102 yards) and Lewis Bond (102 yards) became the first BC duo with 100 rushing and 100 receiving yards since A.J. Dillion and Kobay White at Florida State on (November 17, 2018). Quarterback Thomas Castellanos has been efficient all season long, as he ranks third in the ACC and eighth nationally in passing efficiency at 193.2 on the year.
California: In the Golden Bears’ first-ever ACC game last week at Florida State, quarterback Fernando Mendoza passed for a career-high 303 yards in the loss. Mendoza connected with nine different players, marking the third consecutive game that the Golden Bears have had nine players or more with at least one reception. On defense, Cal extended its national lead to 10 interceptions when Miles Williams picked off Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in the first quarter.
Clemson: Clemson earned its 800th all-time win, becoming the 14th FBS program and first ACC program ever to win 800 games last week in a big way in the double-digit win over NC State. The Clemson offense has found its way over the last two games, as the Tigers have scored 50 points in back-to-back games for the first time since a four-game streak late in the 2019 season. The Tigers have totaled 500 yards or more of offense in back-to-back games for the first time since 2022 against Louisiana Tech and Wake Forest.
Duke: The Blue Devils stand at 4-0 on the season and will aim for their first 5-0 start since a 7-0 beginning in 1994. Duke has already obtained consecutive 4-0 starts to a season for just the fourth time in program history and is looking for their fifth win of the season to record the third consecutive season with five or more wins for just the third time since 2012 and just the sixth time since 1950. Duke has won six consecutive games dating back to the end of the 2023 season. The winning streak is the longest active streak in the ACC and tied for the fourth longest nationally.
Florida State: The Seminoles are the first conference game for SMU in the ACC this week, marking the second straight week that FSU is playing a team for its ACC debut after defeating Cal last Saturday (September 21). Florida State plays its first true road game this week, after opening the season in Dublin, Ireland, and then playing three straight home games. The Seminoles have won seven consecutive road games, which is tied for the sixth-longest active streak in the country.
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets suffered their first loss in six games against nationally ranked ACC opponents under head coach Brent Key last week at then-No. 19 Louisville. Against a Louisville defense that had nine sacks in its first two games, Georgia Tech did not allow a sack for the fifth-straight game to start the season. The Jackets’ are one of just five teams that have not allowed a sack yet this season.
Louisville: The Cardinals, known for their high-scoring offense, scored in all three phases for the first time since 2013, with an offensive touchdown, defensive touchdown and a special teams score in the home ACC win over Georgia Tech last week. Louisville ranks ninth nationally with an average of 6.4 yards per carry. The Cards also rank fourth nationally with seven runs of 20 or more yards and are fourth with four rushes of over 30 yards.
Miami: The Hurricanes rank first in the ACC and fourth nationally in scoring offense, averaging 52.3 points per game over their first four games. The Canes’ offense leads the ACC and ranks second nationally in total offense with an average of 605.0 yards per game, led by transfer quarterback Cam Ward who has spearheaded the ACC’s number one and the nation’s second-best passing offense at 405.0 yards per game through the air. Ward also leads all of FBS with 14 passing touchdowns and has passed for over 300 yards in each of his four starts for Miami.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels totaled 616 yards of offense last Saturday (September 21), the most for the Tar Heels in a game since going for 644 against Syracuse last season. It was the 23rd time UNC has gained 600-plus yards. In his first start, quarterback Jacolby Criswell threw for a career-high 475 yards and three touchdowns. The 475 yards was the third-highest passing mark in a single game by a Tar Heel and also the most by a quarterback in all of FBS this season.
NC State: NCSU head coach Dave Doeren’s first stint as a head coach was at Northern Illinois in 2011 and 2012. He led the Huskies to two MAC titles (including the first one in school history) and never lost a home game in his two seasons as head coach. Since the beginning of the 2020 campaign, NC State is 20-1 when winning the turnover margin. In their two losses this season, the Wolfpack lost the turnover battle. The Pack has won each of the last 10 games when winning the TO margin.
Pitt: The Panthers have started the year 4-0 for the first time since 2000 and only the second time since 1991. For the first time in program history, Pitt went undefeated in non-conference play for a season, having won each of its four non-conference games this year. Pitt’s 194 points over the first four games are the team’s second highest through four games since 2000, which was aided by 73 points in the home win over Youngstown State last week, the third most points recorded by a Narduzzi team in a game.
SMU: In the Mustangs’ 66-42 rout of TCU in the Iron Skillet rivalry game last week, SMU’s defense scored two touchdowns and forced five turnovers, the most in a game for the Mustangs since 2015 against East Carolina. The five takeaways made it three games in a row with at least three turnovers forced for the Mustangs. There was also a punt return for a touchdown and three field goals on special teams to add to the offense’s five trips to the end zone in the win. Brashard Smith broke out with four total touchdowns, including three rushing scores, both career-highs, while racking up 190 all-purpose yards in the win.
Stanford: The Cardinal is coming off its first-ever ACC win by beating Syracuse 26-24 on the road last Friday (September 20), handing the Orange its first loss of 2024. Stanford is 4-2 in road games since the start of last season, with three of those wins coming in conference play. Stanford’s rush defense has been one of the best in the nation the last two seasons, allowing an average of just 36.4 rushing yards per game to opponents in wins since the start of the 2023 season, or 182 yards in five games. This season, Stanford’s run defense ranks third in FBS and leads the ACC, allowing just 51.7 rushing yards per game.
Syracuse: Wide receiver Trebor Pena has proven he is more than just a return specialist this season, as he has been the most frequent target for quarterback Kyle McCord on the offensive side of the ball. Pena leads the team in both receptions (22) and receiving yards (267). Last week in the loss to Stanford, Pena recorded career highs in both catches (10) and receiving yards (101) against Stanford. He ranks 11th in the nation in receptions per game (5.42) and 24th in receiving yards per game (89.0).
Virginia: The Cavaliers found their offense via the run game in the road win at Coastal Carolina last week, as Virginia rushed for 384 yards, marking the first time that a UVA team has eclipsed the 300-yard rushing mark since 2018 versus Richmond. It was the most rushing yards in a game by a UVA offense since compiling 446 yards against San Jose State in 1998. Virginia accumulated 525 yards of total offense (384 rush, 141 pass) in the win last week, the most in a game under head coach Tony Elliott and the most since racking up 588 against BYU in 2021.
Virginia Tech: Running back Bhayshul Tuten ran for 122 yards on 15 carries against Rutgers last time out, averaging more than eight yards per carry and scoring three times. Tuten has also exceeded the century mark in rushing yards a total of five times in the last six games. The three rushing touchdowns tied his career high. The do-it-all back has scored in all four games this season and has eight scores on the year overall for the Hokies. The senior has now registered 43 career all-purpose touchdowns, including 33 rushing scores.
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons and head coach Dave Clawson thrive on special teams each year and it is no different this season. This season, Matthew Dennis is 6-of-6 in field goal attempts and a perfect 9-of-9 in extra points. Over the course of his career, Dennis is 32-of-40 on field goal tries, posting an 80.0 career percentage which ranks second in program history. Ivan Mora is having the best punting season of his career, averaging 47.4 yards per punt including four punts of 50-plus yards. His 42.0 career average per punt ranks fifth in program history
ACC PREVIEWS
Friday, Sept. 27
Virginia Tech (2-2, 0-0 ACC) at #7 Miami (4-0, 0-0 ACC)
7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN
Miami leads series, 25-15
Last meeting: UM, 20-14 (2022)
Head Coaches:
Virginia Tech: Brent Pry (12-16 in third season at VT; 12-16 in third season overall)
Miami: Mario Cristobal (16-13 in third season at UM; 78-73 in 14th season overall)
Notes
• Friday’s contest will be the ACC opener for both teams. Miami holds a 25-15 advantage in the all-time series against Virginia Tech. • Miami’s Cam Ward became just the 13th player in NCAA history to log 15,000 career passing yards, hitting the milestone against USF. Ward and Oregon’s Dillion Gabriel are the only two active FBS quarterbacks with 15,000 yards. • Miami has been successful on both sides of the ball, boasting the No. 2 passing offense (405.0 yds/game) and is the FBS leader in sacks per game (4.00). • Virginia Tech has been successful at stopping the pass, boasting the No. 2 pass defense in the ACC (160.0 yds/ game). The Hokies have shut down teams in the red zone, allowing a score just 68.4 percent of the time – the second-best in the ACC. • VT’s Brayshul Tuten leads the ACC and ranks sixth in the FBS with seven rushing touchdowns, including three against Rutgers.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Holy Cross (1-3, 0-0 Patriot) at Syracuse (2-1, 1-1 ACC)
Noon ET; ACCNX
Syracuse leads series, 24-5
Last meeting: SU, 41-3 (2019)
Head Coaches:
Holy Cross: Dan Curran (1-3 in first season at HC; 54-61 in 12th season overall)
Syracuse: Fran Brown (2-1 in first season at SU; 2-1 in first season overall)
Notes:
• Syracuse boasts the No. 4 passing offense in FBS football, averaging 358.0 yards per game. • Kyle McCord ranks in the top 16 nationally in passing touchdowns (10), passing yards (1,074), passing yards per game (358.0), total offense (358.3), points responsible for (66) and points responsible for per game (22.0). He leads the nation in completions per game at 28.67. • Fadil Diggs is averaging 2.0 tackles-for-loss per game, which ranks sixth in FBS football. • Syracuse is one of 17 teams nationally with a perfect scoring record in the red zone this season. • The Orange are a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth down conversions this season – one of just 11 teams to remain flawless on fourth down. • Holy Cross enters with a 1-3 record, with its lone win coming at Bryant, 43-22. • The Crusaders went 7-4 last year.
Saturday, Sept. 28
#15 Louisville (3-0, 1-0 ACC) at #16 Notre Dame (3-1)
3:30 p.m. ET; Peacock
Series tied, 2-2
Last meeting: UL, 33-20 (2023)
Head Coaches:
Louisville Jeff Brohm (13-4 in second season at UL; 79-48 in 11th season overall)
Notre Dame: Marcus Freeman (22-9 in third full season at ND; 22-9 in third full season overall)
Notes:
• Both the offense and defense for Louisville rank in the top 25 nationally. The Cardinals are 14th nationally in total offense (502.3 yds/game) and 22nd in total defense (268.7 yds/game). • Louisville boasts the No. 12 scoring offense in college football, averaging 47.3 points per game. • The Cardinals’ defense has been stellar this season, allowing just 46 first downs through three games – best in the ACC and 14th throughout FBS. • The Cardinals’ Ramon Puryear is tied for the FBS lead in fumble recoveries with two. • Louisville won the 2023 meeting with Notre Dame, 33-20, in Kentucky. When facing Notre Dame on the road, the Cardinals are 1-1 with its lone win coming in 2014. • Notre Dame will play five of its next six games against ACC opponents. The Fighting Irish are 3-1 this season with a win over No. 20 Texas A&M and a loss to Northern Illinois.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Western Kentucky (3-1, 1-0 CUSA) at Boston College (3-1, 1-0 ACC)
Noon ET; ACC Network
First Meeting
Head Coaches:
Western Kentucky: Tyson Helton (43-27 in sixth season at WKU; 43-27 in sixth season overall)
Boston College: Bill O’Brien (3-1 in first season at BC; 18-10 in third college season overall)
Notes:
• Boston College outscored Michigan State 17-6 in the second half to move to 3-1 on the season. • Thomas Castellanos found Lewis Bond for a 42-yard TD with 1:28 left to put BC on top. • Bond, a redshirt junior, led BC with 102 receiving yards on six catches in the win against Michigan State. • The Eagles boast the No. 2 team passing efficiency in the ACC and No. 7 in the FBS at 190.64. • BC’s defense is tied for eighth nationally with six interceptions on the season. • Donovan Ezeiruaku logged his fourth sack of the season in an eight-tackle showing against MSU. Ezeiruaku ranks 12th in the FBS and fourth in the ACC in sacks. • Castellanos ranks in the top 15 in the FBS in passing efficiency (193.2), passing TDs (10), yards per completion (16.20) and points responsible for (66). • Western Kentucky enters on a three-game winning streak over Eastern Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and Toledo. • WKU went 8-5 in 2023, winning the Famous Toastery Bowl in overtime against Old Dominion.
Saturday, Sept. 28 Northern Illinois (2-1, 0-1 MAC) at NC State (2-2, 0-1 ACC)
Noon ET; The CW
NC State leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: NC State, 41-14 (1997)
Head Coaches:
Northern Illinois: Thomas Hammock (26-34 in sixth season at NIU; 26-34 in sixth season overall)
NC State: Dave Doeren (83-60 in 12th season at NCSU; 106-64 in 14th season overall)
Notes:
• NC State has not allowed a yard on kickoff returns this year. The Wolfpack, Arizona and Louisiana Tech are the only teams without a kick return yard allowed. • The Wolfpack have controlled possession of the football, averaging an ACC-best 33:27 time of possession, which ranks 10th throughout the FBS. • KC Concepcion has hauled in 6.8 catches per game this season, ranking second in the ACC. Concepcion is averaging 59.8 yards per game with three receiving TDs. • NC State looks to wrap up non-conference play with a 3-1 mark. The Wolfpack’s lone blemish in non-conference play came to Tennessee in Charlotte, North Carolina. • The Wolfpack will look to build on a strong fourth quarter in the Clemson loss, outscoring the Tigers 21-0 in the final frame. Kendrick Raphael logged 90 rushing yards and a touchdown, while CJ Bailey threw for 204 yards and a touchdown in his first start at quarterback. • Northern Illinois cracked into the AP Top 25 for two weeks after beating No. 5 Notre Dame. • The Huskies fell to Buffalo, 23-20, in overtime in Week 3.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Louisiana (2-1, 0-0 SBC) at Wake Forest (1-2, 0-1 ACC)
3:30 p.m. ET; ACC Network
First Meeting
Head Coaches:
Louisiana: Michael Desormeaux (15-15 in third full season at UL; 15-15 in third full season overall)
Wake Forest: Dave Clawson (64-63 in 11th season at WF; 154-143 in 24th season overall)
Notes:
• Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between Wake Forest and Louisiana. • Wake Forest’s Nick Anderson leads the ACC and ranks third nationally with 7.0 solo tackles per game. Anderson leads WF with 36.0 tackles on the season. His 12.0 tackles per game leads the ACC and ranks fifth nationally. • The Demon Deacons have taken care of the football, throwing just one interception on the season, which is tied for third in the ACC. • Taylor Morin and Donavon Greene have been a dualthreat through the air for Wake Forest, both averaging at least 87.0 receiving yards per game. • The Demon Deacons have been successful in both return games, ranking third in the ACC in punt returns (21.50) and kick returns (23.75). • Louisiana looks to bounce back from its first loss of the season, a 41-33 loss at home to Tulane. • Last season, the Ragin’ Cajuns went 6-7 with a trip to the New Orleans Bowl.
Saturday, Sept. 28
North Carolina (3-1, 0-0 ACC) at Duke (4-0, 0-0 ACC)
4 p.m. ET; ESPN2
North Carolina leads series, 64-41-4
Last meeting: UNC, 47-45 (2023)
Head Coaches:
North Carolina: Mack Brown (110-74-1 in 16th season at UNC; 285-150-1 in 36th season overall)
Duke: Manny Diaz (4-0 in first season at DU; 25-15 in fourth season overall)
Notes:
• North Carolina has won five straight contests against Duke and three of the last five in Durham. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series, 64-41-4. • Duke closed the non-conference slate at a perfect 4-0, marking just the fourth time in program history to start 4-0 in consecutive seasons. • Duke wide receiver Jordan Moore hauled in a pass for the 30th consecutive game against Middle Tennessee. Moore’s streak is tied for the longest in the ACC. • North Carolina quarterback Jacolby Criswell passed for a career-high 475 yards in the loss to James Madison. 475 yards is the third-highest single-game total in UNC history and the most since Sam Howell’s program record 550 against Wake Forest in 2020. • Omarion Hampton ranks 12th in North Carolina history with 2,460 career rushing yards. He needs just 121 yards to crack into the top 10 all-time.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Stanford (2-1, 1-0 ACC) at #17 Clemson (2-1, 1-0 ACC)
7 p.m. ET; ESPN
Clemson leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: Clemson, 27-21 (1986)
Head Coaches:
Stanford: Troy Taylor (5-10 in second season at STAN; 35-18 in fifth season overall)
Clemson: Dabo Swinney (172-44 in 17th season at CU; 172-44 in 17th season overall)
Notes:
• Clemson and Stanford have never met in the regular season. The only meeting between the two schools was a 27-21 Clemson victory in the 1986 Gator Bowl. • Stanford won its first-ever conference game as an ACC member on September 28 at Syracuse, 26-24. ACC Specialist of the Week Emmet Kenney hit a game-winning 39-yard field goal as time expired. • With a win, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney would tie Bobby Bowden for the most career victories leading an ACC team. 173 of Bowden’s 377 NCAA-recognized victories came as an ACC member while at Florida State. • Both Clemson and Stanford enter the game on a two-game winning streak with a 1-0 record in ACC play. • Clemson became the first ACC program and 14th FBS program overall, to win 800 games with its win on September 21 versus NC State. • Stanford leads the ACC and ranks third nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 51.7 yards per game. In Stanford’s ACC opener, the Cardinal allowed just 26 rushing yards to Syracuse.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Florida State (1-3, 1-2 ACC) at (RV) SMU (3-1, 0-0 ACC)
8 p.m. ET; ACC Network
First Meeting
Head Coaches:
Florida State: Mike Norvell (32-20 in fifth season at FSU; 70-35 in ninth season overall)
SMU: Rhett Lashlee (21-10 in third season at SMU; 21-10 in third season overall)
Notes:
• SMU will host Florida State in its first-ever conference game as a member of the ACC. • The contest with be SMU’s fourth consecutive game at home. • Florida State won its first game of the year on September 21 over Cal. Trailing 9-7 entering the fourth quarter, Ja’Khi Douglas caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from DJ Uiagelelei to put the Seminoles in front for good. • SMU is tied for the national lead with three defensive touchdowns this season. The Mustangs also lead the ACC and rank fourth nationally with five fumbles recovered. • SMU’s Collin Rogers is tied for the FBS lead in field goals per game (2.75), connecting on 84.6 percent of his field goal attempts this season. • Florida State’s Shyheim Brown ranks second in the ACC and ninth nationally in tackles per game, averaging 10.7. Brown also ranks second in the league and fifth nationally in solo tackles per game with 6.3.
