The 2015 football schedule was unveiled on Thursday for the Atlantic Coast Conference and the ACC will play more teams from Power 5 conferences than any other league in America. Though maligned for much of the season in 2014, the ACC went 8-5 against other power conferences during the regular season and ACC champion Florida State became one of the four teams to compete in college football’s first ever playoff. The start of the 2015 season is more than half a year away, but that didn’t stop us from looking at the top 10 non-conference games for the ACC in 2015:
10. Clemson at South Carolina
Saturday, November 28th
Clemson snapped a 5-game skid to the Gamecocks in the battle for the Palmetto State this last season and the Tigers could be favorites for a second straight season. Deshaun Watson will enter the 2015 season as the starter and Clemson has a number of young weapons around him. Many are pegging Clemson as the frontrunners in the ACC in 2015 and South Carolina could stand as a roadblock between the Tigers and perhaps a playoff spot.
9. Boise State at Virginia
Friday, November 25th
Virginia made strides in 2014 improving from two wins to five. Virginia will have a chance to make a major statement early in 2015 opening against UCLA before hosting Boise State on national television to conclude September. The Broncos were back to their Boise State ways this past season, winning the Fiesta Bowl. Virginia looks to be a team moving in the right direction and this could be a signature victory for Mike London.
8. North Carolina vs. South Carolina
Thursday, September 3rd (Charlotte)
Two teams that woefully underachieved in 2014 will have a chance to begin the new season on the right foot. South Carolina will be breaking in a new quarterback while North Carolina looks to rebound from a disappointing season in which the Tar Heels were good on offense with quarterback Marquise Williams, but dreadful on defense. As always, contests against the SEC are seen as statement games and Larry Fedora’s team will have the opportunity to make some noise early on.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – NOVEMBER 29: Dalvin Cook #4 of the Florida State Seminoles rushes during a game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 29, 2014 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
7. Florida State at Florida
Saturday, November 28th
It will be Jim McElwain’s first crack at Jimbo Fisher and the Seminoles. This game could feature of number of new faces as Florida State replaces former Heisman winner Jameis Winston and a number of starters on each side of the football. For FSU, it could be the Dalvin Cook show as Florida State will be looking to earn its third straight win in Gainesville while the Gators are hoping to pick up a win and make a move back to national respectability.
6. Nebraska at Miami
Saturday, September 19th
From 1983-2001, Nebraska and Miami played each other for the national championship four times. The programs have since become second-tier teams from a national standpoint, but this early season match-up should have an old time feel. The quarterback match-up between Miami’s Brad Kaaya and Nebraska’s Tommy Armstrong Jr. could be very entertaining. This will be Mike Riley’s first chance to make a big impression on the fans in Lincoln and for Al Golden, a loss could bring about a very hot seat.
5. Georgia Tech at Notre Dame
Saturday, September 19th
A big early season test for both teams could prove to be a statement game for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are coming off an 11-win season and a victory over Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl. Justin Thomas returns to lead the Yellow Jacket offense against a Notre Dame team that will be looking to have a bounce back season after dropping five of its final seven games in 2014.
4. Notre Dame at Clemson
October 3rd
Notre Dame will be heading into hostile territory to face a Clemson team that very well may be the class of the ACC. The Tigers went unblemished at Death Valley a season ago and made a major statement by throttling Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Notre Dame will be breaking in a new quarterback while Clemson will have a number of new faces along its defensive front seven. With offensive minds like Dabo Swinney and Brian Kelly leading the teams, this one could become a shootout.
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 6: Bucky Hodges #7 of the Virginia Tech Hokies gets his fingers on a pass but is unable to hold on as the pass falls incomplete in the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on September 6, 2014 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
3. Ohio State at Virginia Tech
Monday, September 6th
The defending national champions will open the season against the only team to defeat them a season ago. A lot changed since the Hokies’ 35-21 victory in Columbus for each team as Virginia Tech finished 7-6 and the Buckeyes reeled off 13 straight wins. Ohio State will have a decision to make on which quarterback to start while Virginia Tech will look to become a top-tier ACC program once again after losing at least five games in each of the last three seasons.
2. Georgia at Georgia Tech
Saturday, November 28th
Georgia Tech ended a 5-game skid against the Bulldogs last season with a 30-24 overtime victory. This season, the Yellow Jackets could actually come in as the favorite in this installment of “Clean, Old Fashioned Hate”. After losing 11 of the previous 12 to Georgia, Georgia Tech will have a chance to prove that the pendulum has indeed swung for football supremacy in the state of Georgia.
1. Auburn vs. Louisville
Saturday, September 5th
It wasn’t that long ago that Auburn was trying to lure Bobby Petrino away from Louisville. The Cardinals brought some much-needed credibility to the ACC in their first year as a member of the conference while Auburn severely underachieved in 2014 after being one stop away from a national championship the year prior. This contest should match contrasting styles as Louisville won with physicality last season and Auburn continued to win games with its uptempo offense and blazing speed.
