The 2020 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 Notre Dame – November 7, 2020
Last year ACC teams had very few marquee national OOC games during the regular season. Clemson at Notre Dame will qualify as one of the biggest games of the season. Clemson should be undefeated going into the game, and Notre Dame likely in the top 15. Clemson also has a BYE week prior to the game, which is good and leads me to the next thing I like about the schedule.
BYEs before Notre Dame
ACC teams play 6 games this year against Notre Dame, and 3 of the ACC teams (Duke, Clemson and Pitt) have BYE weeks against Notre Dame. Notre Dame is always going to be one of the top games of the year for an ACC team, but it is OOC. There is no reason to show any favoritism to the Irish. Schedule so the games gives the advantage to the ACC teams.
Virginia vs Georgia – September 7, 2020
While I do think the Hoos will be overmatched in this one, Labor Day night has always been a showcase game for an ACC team. I would prefer it is 2 ACC teams, but for a Virginia program starting to touch the surface of being really good – games like this are huge. If you are going to schedule up this much, at least make it the only game of the day when everyone is watching.
Louisville vs Clemson – September 12, 2020
The ACC is Clemson and everybody else. That said Louisville looks as equipped as anyone to finish as the ACC’s 2nd best team, and should be a top 25 caliber team next season. I like the position of this game in the 2nd week of the season. It’s a noteworthy ACC game early in the season especially if Louisville can get by NC State in week 1. The schedule really opens for the Cardinals after that, I can see them 9-1 or 8-2 before a game with Notre Dame in Week 11.
NC State vs Mississippi State – September 12, 2020
I’m not predicting a NC State win, but here’s what I like about this game with Mississippi State. It’s an SEC opponent, but a winnable one. If you want to play a SEC opponent, it doesn’t have to be Alabama, LSU, Auburn, etc all the time.
There are average to below average teams in the SEC that are suitable opponents. Let’s face it right now in the ACC only Clemson looks equipped to compete with a SEC power. Schedule to your level, and for an NC State program in rebuild mode, that’s their toughest OOC game. That’s smart scheduling.
If they win that game, they are probably going 4-0 OOC and just need to win a couple of more games to get bowl eligible.
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