CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Thursday, the ACC and its television partners formally announced kickoff times for the first three weeks of the 2024 football season.
As previously announced, Clemson’s season opener against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 31 is slated for a noon ET kickoff. That Aflac Kickoff Game contest at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be broadcast on ABC.
The ACC announced Thursday that Clemson will play its home opener in prime time on Saturday, Sept. 7, as the Tigers will welcome the Appalachian State Mountaineers for an 8 p.m. kickoff on ACC Network. Clemson will then have one of two scheduled open dates on Saturday, Sept. 14, before returning to action against NC State at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21. Kickoff time for that contest remains TBA.
–via Clemson Athletic Communications
The ACC and its television partners announced the kickoff times and networks for the majority of ACC football games during the first three weeks of the 2024 football season. The announcement also includes the times and networks for the league’s Thursday and Friday night matchups throughout the 2024 campaign. ACC teams will play 22 games on ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2 from the games covered by this announcement.
“The 2024 ACC football season will make history with the addition of three new schools – Cal, SMU, and Stanford. Excitement is at an all-time high due to having the collection of the best quarterbacks in the country, our new conference schedule and the most challenging non-conference schedule in the nation,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “We eagerly anticipate our teams being prominently featured on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, furthering our partnership with Disney/ESPN following the ACC’s record-breaking viewership in the CFP era last year. We greatly appreciate our partners at Disney, ESPN, and ACC Network and look forward to what’s ahead.”
Of the games announced to date, ABC will broadcast four games out of the 22 ACC national broadcasts scheduled, including three contests in the first two weeks of the season and “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” between Georgia Tech and Georgia on Friday, Nov. 29, a primetime selection for “Black Friday.” On Aug. 31, ABC will air an ACC doubleheader featuring the Clemson Tigers versus the Georgia Bulldogs in the Aflac Kickoff Game at noon ET, followed by a Miami versus Florida in-state matchup at 3:30 p.m. ET. On September 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC’s “Saturday Night Football” will feature the NC State Wolfpack versus the Tennessee Volunteers in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Week Zero will showcase three ACC teams in two games, highlighted by a Florida State versus Georgia Tech conference matchup in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic from Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 24 at noon ET on ESPN. Additionally, SMU will make its debut as an ACC member at Nevada on Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will broadcast live from Dublin, Ireland, for the Week Zero ACC matchup between Florida State and Georgia Tech to kick off the 2024 season. This marks the first time that the show will broadcast from outside the United States.
The ACC will be featured throughout the Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 29 through Sept. 2, with 16 games over five days.
The Labor Day weekend opens on Thursday, Aug. 29, as NC State hosts Western Carolina at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network and Wake Forest welcomes North Carolina A&T at 7 p.m. ET on ACCNX. On the same day, North Carolina will play at Minnesota at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
On the first Friday night of the 2024 season, Duke will start the Manny Diaz era with a home game against Elon at 7:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network, while new ACC member Stanford will face TCU in a home game at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The first Saturday slate of the 2024 season features 10 games, highlighted by California’s first contest as an ACC member and Syracuse head coach Fran Brown’s first game leading the Orange. The Saturday schedule includes the aforementioned Clemson versus Georgia (noon ET, ABC), Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt (noon ET, ESPN), Kent State at Pitt (noon ET, ESPNU), Austin Peay at Louisville (noon ET, ACCN), Miami at Florida (3:30 p.m., ABC), Ohio at Syracuse (3:30 p.m. ET, ACCN), UC Davis at California (5 p.m. ET, ACCNX), Richmond at Virginia (6 p.m. ET, ACCNX), Georgia State at Georgia Tech (8 p.m. ET, ACCN) and Houston Christian at SMU (8 p.m. ET, ACCNX).
The opening weekend concludes on Labor Day (Sept. 2), with Boston College and new head coach Bill O’Brien taking on 2023 ACC Coach of the Year Mike Norvell and his Florida State Seminoles at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Week Two features six nationally televised broadcasts starting on Friday, Sept. 6, as SMU hosts BYU at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 and Duke travels to Northwestern for a 9 p.m. ET kickoff on FS1. On Saturday, Sept. 7, Pitt will travel to Cincinnati at noon ET on ESPN or ESPN2, California will take on Auburn at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, Wake Forest will host Virginia at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and NC State will play Tennessee in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
ACC Network will showcase a triple-header on Sept. 7, beginning at noon ET with a conference matchup between Georgia Tech and Syracuse and continuing with Charlotte at North Carolina at 3:30 p.m. ET and Appalachian State at Clemson at 8 p.m. ET, while Marshall and Virginia Tech will kick off from Blacksburg, Virginia, at 4:30 p.m. ET on The CW.
The other four contests on Sept. 7 include Duquesne at Boston College (3:30 p.m. ET, ACCNX), Jacksonville State at Louisville (3:30 p.m. ET, ACCNX), Florida A&M at Miami (6 p.m. ET, ACCNX) and Cal Poly at Stanford (7 p.m. ET, ACCNX).
Week Three consists of 12 matchups on Saturday, Sept. 14, including three national broadcasts on the ESPN family of networks, with Memphis at Florida State at noon ET on ESPN, West Virginia at Pitt at 3:30 p.m. ET on either ESPN or ESPN2 and San Diego State at California at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
ACC Network will also feature three ACC home contests on Sept. 14, as NC State will host Louisiana Tech at noon ET, Miami will welcome Ball State at 3:30 p.m. ET, and Virginia will take on Maryland at 8 p.m. ET. Wake Forest will host Ole Miss at 6:30 p.m. ET on The CW.
Boston College will hit the road to take on Missouri on Sept. 14 at 12:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network, while Georgia Tech will host VMI at 3:30 p.m. ET on ACCNX. Virginia Tech at Old Dominion (ESPN+), UConn at Duke (ACCNX) and North Carolina Central versus North Carolina (ACCNX) will all kick off at 6 p.m. ET on Sept. 14.
The ACC and ESPN also announced information for 11 additional games, including a combined nine Thursday and Friday games and two Saturday non-conference games later in the season. Listed in the schedule below are the games that have been selected for television as of May 30.
The ACC’s non-conference schedule continues to be the most challenging in the country. In addition to 27 games against Power 4 opponents, including Notre Dame, the ACC will play nine non-conference games against teams ranked in the final 2023 Associated Press Top 25 Poll and 10 non-conference games against teams in ESPN’s 2024 Way-Too-Early Top 25, all the most of any conference.
Eleven schools – Boston College, California, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Virginia and Virginia Tech – are scheduled to play two Power 4 conference opponents (including Notre Dame) this season.
All 17 ACC teams are scheduled to play at least six games versus bowl teams from last season, highlighted by Georgia Tech slated to play 11 games against a team that played in a bowl game last season.
Game Times and TV Designations announced on May 30
Saturday, August 24
Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) – Noon ET / ESPN (previously announced)
SMU at Nevada – 8 p.m. ET / CBS Sports Network
Thursday, August 29
Western Carolina at NC State – 7 p.m. ET / ACC Network
North Carolina A&T at Wake Forest – 7 p.m. ET / ACCNX
North Carolina at Minnesota – 8 p.m. ET / FOX
Friday, August 30
Elon at Duke – 7:30 p.m. ET / ACC Network
TCU at Stanford – 10:30 p.m. ET / ESPN (previously announced)
Saturday, August 31
Clemson vs. Georgia (Aflac Kickoff Game) – Noon ET / ABC (previously announced)
Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt – Noon ET / ESPN
Kent State at Pitt – Noon ET / ESPNU
Austin Peay at Louisville – Noon ET / ACC Network
Miami at Florida – 3:30 p.m. ET / ABC (previously announced)
Ohio at Syracuse – 3:30 p.m. ET / ACC Network
UC Davis at California – 5 p.m. ET / ACCNX
Richmond at Virginia – 6 p.m. ET / ACCNX
Georgia State at Georgia Tech – 8 p.m. ET / ACC Network
Houston Christian at SMU – 8 p.m. ET / ACCNX
Monday, September 2
Boston College at Florida State – 7:30 p.m. ET / ESPN (previously announced)
Friday, September 6
BYU at SMU – 7 p.m. ET / ESPN2
Duke at Northwestern – 9 p.m. ET / FS1
Saturday, September 7
Pitt at Cincinnati – Noon ET / ESPN or ESPN2
Georgia Tech at Syracuse – Noon ET / ACC Network
California at Auburn – 3:30 p.m. ET / ESPN2
Charlotte at North Carolina – 3:30 p.m. ET / ACC Network
Duquesne at Boston College – 3:30 p.m. ET / ACCNX
Jacksonville State at Louisville – 3:30 p.m. ET / ACCNX
Marshall at Virginia Tech – 4:30 p.m. ET / The CW
Florida A&M at Miami – 6 p.m. ET / ACCNX
Virginia at Wake Forest – 7 p.m. ET / ESPN2
Cal Poly at Stanford – 7 p.m. ET / ACCNX
NC State vs. Tennessee (Duke’s Mayo Classic) – 7:30 p.m. / ABC (previously announced)
Appalachian State at Clemson – 8 p.m. ET / ACC Network
Saturday, September 14
Memphis at Florida State – Noon ET / ESPN
Louisiana Tech at NC State – Noon ET / ACC Network
Boston College at Missouri – 12:45 p.m. ET / SEC Network
West Virginia at Pitt – 3:30 p.m. ET / ESPN or ESPN2
Ball State at Miami – 3:30 p.m. ET / ACC Network
VMI at Georgia Tech – 3:30 p.m. ET / ACCNX
North Carolina Central at North Carolina – 6 p.m. ET / ACCNX
UConn at Duke – 6 p.m. ET / ACCNX
Virginia Tech at Old Dominion – 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+
Ole Miss at Wake Forest – 6:30 p.m. ET / The CW
Maryland at Virginia – 8 p.m. ET / ACC Network
San Diego State at California – 10:30 p.m. ET / ESPN
Friday, September 20
Stanford at Syracuse – 7:30 p.m. ET / ESPN
Saturday, September 21
Youngstown State at Pitt – 3:30 p.m. ET / ACCNX
Friday, September 27
Virginia Tech at Miami – 7:30 p.m. ET / ESPN
Saturday, September 28
Holy Cross at Syracuse – Noon ET / ACCNX
Thursday, October 17
Boston College at Virginia Tech – 7:30 p.m. ET / ESPN
Friday, October 18
Florida State at Duke – 7 p.m. ET / ESPN2
Thursday, October 24
Syracuse at Pitt – 7:30 p.m. ET / ESPN
Friday, October 25
Louisville at Boston College – 7:30 p.m. / ESPN2
Friday, November 8
California at Wake Forest – 8 p.m. ET / ACC Network
Thursday, November 21
NC State at Georgia Tech – 7:30 p.m. ET / ESPN
Friday, November 29
Georgia Tech at Georgia – 7:30 p.m. ET / ABC
ACC Notes
- The ACC is the Conference of Quarterbacks, with the return of full-time starters Thomas Castellanos at Boston College, Cade Klubnik at Clemson, Haynes King at Georgia Tech, Preston Stone at SMU, and Kyron Drones at Virginia Tech, and transfers Maalik Murphy at Duke, DJ Uiagalelei at Florida State, Tyler Shough at Louisville, Cam Ward at Miami, Grayson McCall at NC State, and Kyle McCord at Syracuse among others.
- The ACC’s non-conference schedule continues to be the most challenging in the country.
- 27 games against Power 4 opponents, including Notre Dame, the most of any conference.
- Nine non-conference games against teams ranked in the final 2023 Associated Press Top 25 Poll, the most of any conference.
- 10 non-conference games against teams in ESPN’s 2024 Way-Too-Early Top 25, the most of any conference.
- In ESPN’s updated 2024 Way Too Early College Football Top 25 rankings, the ACC has five teams ranked.
- Last season, four ACC teams finished in the top 25 of both the Associated Press (AP) and AFCA Coaches Polls.
- In the AP poll, Florida State finished tied for No. 6, while Louisville was No. 19, Clemson was No. 20, and NC State was ranked No. 21.
- In the AFCA Coaches poll, Florida State was No. 6, Louisville was No. 18, and Clemson and NC State were No. 20 and No. 21, respectively.
- Four teams were ranked in last year’s final College Football Playoff (CFP) Top 25 rankings.
- The four ACC teams were tied for the second-most among all FBS conferences.
- Florida State (No. 5), Louisville (No. 15), NC State (No. 18), and Clemson (No. 22).
- Over two-thirds of the ACC was bowl-eligible last year, as 11 of the 14 conference teams made a bowl game.
- The 11 ACC bowl-eligible teams were the most among all Power 5 conferences.
- The 11 teams also matched a conference-high from 2018.
- Not including the pandemic-affected 2020 season, the ACC has sent at least nine teams to a bowl every year since 2016. Since 2013, the ACC ranks second among all conferences with 111 postseason appearances.
- Six different ACC teams started the 2023 season a year ago at 4-0, which tied the SEC in 2012 for the most teams in a Power 5 conference to start 4-0 in a single season in the AP Poll Era (since 1936).
- The ACC finished with 10 teams posting a winning record, only the second time in the playoff era (11 – 2016) that the conference has achieved that feat.
- ACC teams totaled a combined 43 wins over teams with a record over .500 last season, the most among all FBS conferences.
- The ACC again posted a solid record in non-conference play last season, going 44-23 (.657) overall. The ACC’s 44 non-conference wins were the second-most among all FBS conferences.
- In 2023, the ACC was a combined 7-5 versus the SEC, which marked the ACC’s third winning season versus the SEC and its second-most wins versus the SEC in the past 20 years (5-3 – 2014; 10-4 – 2016; 7-5 – 2023).
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