By Trey McCurry.
The ACC kicks off its 60th season on the gridiron this weekend. The schedule features 10 games, including four that will be nationally televised. Two of those games will take place on back-to-back nights at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta as NC State faces Tennessee on Friday and Clemson takes on Auburn Saturday night. Two conference games are on tap this weekend, with Miami (FL) traveling to Boston College on Saturday and Georgia Tech facing #16 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on Labor Day night.
Boston College 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 4-8 (3-5 ACC)
This Week: Saturday, September 1 vs. Miami (FL) (3:30PM on ABC/ESPN2)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 vs. Maine (1:00PM on ESPN3)
Notes: Boston College is beginning their 114th season on the gridiron. Over the last five seasons, the Eagles rank fifth nationally in rushing defense (99.53 yards over 91 games). Since joining the ACC in 2005, Boston College has won a total of 58 games, trailing only Virginia Tech (84 wins) in victories by conference teams. The Eagles have produced a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft three times in the last five years.
Duke 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 3-9 (1-7 ACC)
This Week: Saturday, September 1 vs. Florida International (7:00PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 @ #18 Stanford (10:30PM on P12 Network)
Notes: The Blue Devils will be competing in their 100th football season in 2012. Duke has won three or more games in four straight seasons for the first time since 1985-91. The Blue Devils played six one-possession games (eight points or less) in 2011, tying for sixth-most in the nation. WR Conner Vernon needs 35 catches to break the ACC career mark of 232 receptions and is only 10 catches shy of the Duke record.
Florida State 0-0 (0-0) #7 in both AP & USA Today Polls
Last Year: 9-4 (5-3 ACC) – defeated Notre Dame 18-14 in the Champs Sports Bowl
This Week: Saturday, September 1 vs. Murray State (6:00PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 1 vs. Savannah State (6:00PM on ESPN3)
Notes: The Seminoles have held eight straight opponents to 19 or fewer points, the longest streak by an ACC team since Miami (FL) in 2005. QB EJ Manuel has thrown 121 consecutive passes without an interception. Florida State owns the nation’s longest active consecutive bowl appearance streak (30 games). The Seminoles open with four straight home games for the first time in the program’s 66-year history.
Georgia Tech 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 8-5 (5-3 ACC) – lost to Utah 30-27 (OT) in the Sun Bowl
This Week: Monday, September 3 @ #16 Virginia Tech (8:00PM on ESPN)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 vs. Presbyterian (7:00PM on ESPN3)
Notes: The Jackets posted their 17th consecutive non-losing season in ACC play in 2011. Paul Johnson’s 33 wins in his first four seasons are the most by any head coach in his first four years in program history. Georgia Tech is 22-1 when scoring more than 30 points under Johnson. The Yellow Jackets are the only FBS team to average more than 300 yards rushing per game in each of the last four seasons, good for fourth or better nationally each year.
Maryland 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 2-10 (1-7 ACC)
This Week: Saturday, September 1 vs. William & Mary (3:00PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 @ Temple (12:00PM on ESPNU)
Notes: The Terps scored five times on defense last season (tied for sixth in FBS) and have 11 defensive touchdowns in their last 28 games. Maryland will face nine teams (out of 12 games) that played in a bowl game last season. The Terp defense returns 11 of their top 13 tacklers in 2012, including their top two players – LB Demetrius Hartsfield (108 tackles/fifth nationally in tackles per game) and S Eric Franklin (106 tackles).
Miami (FL) 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 6-6 (3-5 ACC)
This Week: Saturday, September 1 @ Boston College (3:30PM on ABC/ESPN2)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 @ #21 Kansas State (12:00PM on Fox Regional)
Notes: The Hurricanes did not suffer a loss by more than eight points in 2011, losing six games by a total of 33 points (5.5 points per game). In 100 games over the past eight seasons, Miami (FL) has held its opponents to an average of 315.85 yards per game in total offense – a figure that ranks 11th-best nationally. P Dalton Botts, a Ray Guy Award watch list nominee, was the lone Hurricane named to the 2012 All-ACC Preseason Team.
NC State 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 8-5 (4-4 ACC) – defeated Louisville 31-24 in the Belk Bowl
This Week: Friday, August 31 vs. Tennessee in Chick-Fil-A Kickoff (7:30PM on ESPNU)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 @ Connecticut (12:00PM on Big East Network)
Notes: Wolfpack Head Coach Tom O’Brien is 7-5 against nationally ranked opponents in five years at NC State. CB David Amerson’s 13 interceptions last season led the nation, set an ACC single-season record, and were the most in the FBS in 29 years. CB C.J. Wilson has returned each of this three career interceptions for touchdowns. QB Mike Glennon’s 31 touchdown passes last season was the second-highest single-season mark in NC State history.
North Carolina 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 7-6 (3-5 ACC) – lost to Missouri 41-24 in the Independence Bowl
This Week: Saturday, September 1 vs. Elon (12:30PM on ACC Network)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 @ Wake Forest (3:00PM on RSN)
Notes: For the first time since the 1940s, the Tar Heels will face five fellow teams from the state of North Carolina, including first-time foe Elon. RB Giovani Bernard, the ACC Freshman of the Year, finished last season with 1,253 rushing yards, the third-best total ever by an ACC freshman and the most by any freshman in the FBS in 2011. KR T.J. Thorpe led the ACC with a 26.7-yard kickoff return average last season.
Virginia 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 8-5 (5-3 ACC) – lost to Auburn 43-24 in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl
This Week: Saturday, September 1 vs. Richmond (3:00PM on RSN)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 vs. Penn State (12:00PM on ABC)
Notes: The Cavaliers eight wins doubled their win total from 2010. Six of the wins were by 10 or fewer points, including four victories by a total of eight points. All five of Virginia’s losses in 2011 were to bowl-bound teams and the Cavaliers will face eight teams that earned bowl bids last season. At least one Virginia player has been selected in each of the last 29 NFL Drafts, the second-longest streak among ACC schools.
Virginia Tech 0-0 (0-0) #16 in AP Poll & #20 USA Today Poll
Last Year: 11-3 (7-1 ACC) – lost to #12 Michigan 23-20 (OT) in the Sugar Bowl
This Week: Monday, September 3 vs. Georgia Tech (8:00PM on ESPN)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 vs. Austin Peay (1:30PM on ESPN3)
Notes: The Hokies have been ranked in 105 of the 130 AP polls released during their ACC tenure. Virginia Tech is the only current team in the FBS with eight straight years of 10 or more wins. The Hokies are the fourth program in FBS history to accomplish the feat and Frank Beamer is the third coach. Beamer’s 251 wins in 31 seasons leads all active FBS coaches in career wins and ranks eighth all-time.
Wake Forest 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 6-7 (5-3 ACC) – lost to Mississippi State 23-17 in the Music City Bowl
This Week: Saturday, September 1 vs. Liberty (6:30PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 vs. North Carolina (3:00PM on RSN)
Notes: In the Demon Deacons last five games, QB Tanner Price threw 173 passes without an interception, the seventh longest streak in ACC history. WR Michael Campanaro was the only FBS player in 2011 with 700 or more receiving yards (833) and 100 or more passing (106), the first ACC player to accomplish the feat since 2002. CB Bud Noel tied for the NCAA lead last season with 1.62 passes defended per game (two interceptions and a nation-leading 19 passes defended.
Future ACC Teams:
Pittsburgh 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 6-7 (4-3 Big East) – lost to SMU 28-6 in the BBVA Compass Bowl
This Week: Saturday, September 1 vs. Youngstown State (6:00PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Thursday, September 6 vs. Pittsburgh (8:00PM on ESPN)
Notes: The Panthers have made four straight postseason appearances, despite having four head coaches in the past three seasons. Pittsburgh was 5-0 in 2011 when scoring at least 33 points and 1-7 when held to fewer than 33 points. QB Tino Sunseri will make his 27th consecutive start for the Panthers against Youngstown State. Four Pittsburgh players have been named Big East Defensive Player of the Year since 2008.
Syracuse 0-0 (0-0)
Last Year: 5-7 (1-6 Big East)
This Week: Saturday, September 1 vs. Northwestern (12:00PM on ESPN2)
Up Next: Saturday, September 8 vs. Southern Cal @ MetLife Stadium (3:30PM on ABC)
Notes: The Orange nonconference schedule includes two games against Big Ten opponents and one each against teams from the PAC-12 and SEC. Syracuse was 4-1 in 2011 when scoring at least 21 points and 1-6 when held to fewer than 21 points. The Orange won five of seven games to open 2011, before closing the season on a five-game slide. Syracuse played three overtime games in 2011, going 2-1 in those contests.