May is usually the time to start thinking about the college football season. We’re a little early to start a player analysis, but it’s time for a deep dive into the schedule. We’ve already looked at the ACC’s 10 best OOC games, and now it’s time to check in on one of the ACC’s best conference games of the season starting with games 11-15.
11) Clemson at UNC – October 4th, 2025
If a couple of results hold early, Clemson at UNC could be a top 3 ACC game of the year. Clemson has a couple of tough games first with LSU and at Georgia Tech, and UNC faces TCU and goes to UCF, but if both ware 4-0 this would be a monster of game with two of the most successful coaches of this generation at the collegiate (Dabo Swinney) and pro (Bill Belichick) level. Even if one falters before this game, this would still be a highly anticipated game.
12) Cal at Stanford – November 22, 2025
I’m sucker for a traditional rivalry game. Cal and Stanford have met 127 times in one of the country’s oldest rivalries. It’s even called the Big Game, and is responsible for one of the most iconic moments in college football – the 1982 the Play. Last year’s game went down to the final minutes in a 24-21 win for Cal. Throw out the records, this is good fun football.
13) Duke at UNC – November 22, 2025
Manny Diaz quietly led Duke to a solid 9 win season in 2024. There was no drop off for the Blue Devils after Mike Elko left for Texas A&M. Multiple Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick has created a buzz around UNC buzz around UNC football not seen since the late 90s. Not all of it is good, but there’s no such thing as bad publicity. This game has been decided by single digits the last three years, and in most years is one of the most competitive games in the conference. This game is just pure entertainment.
14) SMU at Clemson – October 18, 2025
Ah the rematch of the ACCT tile game where SMU’s furious rally fell just short of the win. Clemson, on paper, should be the class of the ACC with a ton of returning talent, but SMU gained a ton of experience last season in playing and winning a lot of football at the highest level. If Clemson wants to get back to the ACCT game, this is a must-win game.
15) Louisville at SMU – November 22, 2025
Louisville at SMU is such a sneaky good game. Jeff Brohm and Rhett Lashlee have turned the Cardinals and Mustangs into consistent 9-11 game-winning programs. I don’t expect them to slip back much, if at all, this year. This game in late November could have ACCT game implications. Louisville is coming off a 9-win season, and SMU just went to the CFP as an at-large team. Keep an eye on this one.
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