The 2023 ACC Football schedule was released a few days ago. As we do each year, we’re going to tell you what like about it, and later what we don’t like about the schedule.
Clemson vs Florida State – September 23, 2023
Now that the ACC has gone divisionless, the top two ACC teams can meet in the ACCCG. The ACC’s two highest-ranked teams going into 2023 will be Clemson and Florida State. Having them play early in the season when it’s likely, they’ll meet in the ACCCG is smart scheduling. There is plenty of time for of time for either to make up a ranking even with a loss.
You never know if they’ll end up being the ACC’s best two-best teams, but I like the attempt to set things up for the rest of the season in this way.
Labor Day Weekend National TV Games
ESPN always get criticized for now showcasing the ACC vs the other conferences they televise. Most of it deserved criticism too, but not on Labor Day weekend. This is the one weekend of the football season that ESPN treats the ACC right.
First, the Friday night between Georgia Tech and Louisville is a national TV game. Then Sunday night is LSU vs Florida State in a game that drew ratings in 2022. Monday is a Labor Day game between Clemson and Duke. These are exclusive national TV window games featuring ACC Teams. It doesn’t happen often for the ACC to be well covered by ESPN, but it does this week.
No Divisions!
This one speaks for itself. Matchups we just don’t see often we’re getting this year – Virginia Tech vs Florida State, Clemson vs Miami and multiple other previously rare Atlantic vs Coastal matchups we didn’t see often in the past. This will also set up the best matchup possible in the ACCCG. We’ve been waiting a long time for this, and now it’s finally here.
Equitable BYE Weeks
In years past we’ve seen ACC teams with extremely early BYE weeks or some more than two months in the season. It can create a level of iniquity during the ACC season. This season the conference did a good job spreading out the BYE Weeks. All ACC BYE weeks for each team are between Weeks 5 and 8. That’s a good solid job of scheduling.
Pittsburgh vs West Virginia – September 16, 2023
Last season’s Pitt and West Virginia game was a great way to open the season. It had good ratings and a full stadium in Pittsburgh. It had a lot of fans and media talking about how nice it was to have a traditional regional rivalry game.
Let’s do it again in 2023.
This time the Backyard Brawl is at West Virginia as the second game in a series from 2022-0225.
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