Tag: ACC football

ACC reveals the 2025 Duke football schedule, including a Tulane rematch for Darian Mensah

The 2025 Duke football schedule is officially set, including an early-season match between new quarterback Darian Mensah and his old school.

The Duke Blue Devils, along with every other member of the ACC, officially revealed their 2025 college football schedule on Monday evening, and new quarterback [autotag]Darian Mensah[/autotag] will see a familiar foe in the non-conference leadup.

Duke opens the second campaign of the [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] era with an August 30 game against Elon, exactly one year to the day after the 2024 opener against that same Phoenix team. The Blue Devils won 26-3 in Diaz’s first game thanks to a pair of [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] touchdown passses.

The Blue Devils play another Big Ten team in Week 2, this time hosting the Illinois Fighting Illini, before traveling for their first road game on September 13. The team? The Tulane Green Wave, Mensah’s former program. The new Duke quarterback announced his decision to transfer after leading Tulane to nine wins and an American Athletic Conference Championship appearance as a redshirt freshman.

Duke’s first ACC game comes against the NC State Wolfpack in Durham on September 20, and it closes the season with back-to-back rivalry battles against the North Carolina Tar Heels (Nov. 22) and Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Nov. 29).

Check out the full schedule below:

2025 Duke football schedule

  • Aug. 30: vs Elon Phoenix
  • Sept. 6: vs Illinois Fighting Illini
  • Sept. 13: at Tulane Green Wave
  • Sept. 20: vs NC State Wolfpack
  • Sept. 27: at Syracuse Orange
  • Oct. 4: at California Golden Bears
  • Oct. 18: vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
  • Nov. 1: at Clemson Tigers
  • Nov. 8: at Connecticut Huskies
  • Nov. 15: vs Virginia Cavaliers
  • Nov. 22: at North Carolina Tar Heels
  • Nov. 29: vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Duke football earns an ‘A-‘ grade from USA TODAY Sports after nine-win season

The Duke Blue Devils far exceeded expectations on the football field in 2024, earning a favorite grade from USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday.

The Duke Blue Devils didn’t end the 2024 football season on the highest of notes, but head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] and his program still far surpassed the preseason expectations in year one.

Duke finished with nine wins and a 5-3 conference record thanks to multiple double-digit comebacks, notably at home against the North Carolina Tar Heels and on the road against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. It all added up to an ‘A-‘ grade from USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg in his annual report card handed out on Wednesday.

Only 17 teams out of the 134 FBS programs earned a higher grade than the Blue Devils, and the SMU Mustangs (A+) and Syracuse Orange (A) were the only ACC schools higher on the grading scale.

Duke ended the year with a 52-20 loss to Ole Miss in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, but it played that game without starting quarterback [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag]. Murphy, who sat out ahead of his transfer to Oregon State, set a school record with 26 passing touchdowns in his first year with the team.

Before 2024, the Blue Devils had only won nine games in a single season three times since 1941, and Duke swept UNC, Wake Forest, and NC State for the first time since 2013.

Duke football drops from the top 25 of USA TODAY Sports re-rank after bowl loss

Check out where the Duke Blue Devils ended up in the final USA TODAY Sports college football re-rank released on Tuesday.

With the Ohio State Buckeyes defeating former Duke quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Monday night, the 2024 college football season has officially drawn to a close.

First-year Blue Devils coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] put together a remarkably successful campaign, winning nine regular-season games and sweeping his three in-state rivals for one of the best seasons in school history. After this month’s 52-20 loss to Ole Miss in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, however, the team from Durham took a tumble in the USA TODAY Sports re-rank on Tuesday.

Duke dropped seven spots to No. 30 in Paul Myerberg’s final ranking of all 134 FBS teams. The Blue Devils slipped below the Syracuse Orange (up one spot to 23rd) and the Louisville Cardinals (who held still at No. 28), but Diaz’s team still finished sixth among ACC teams on Myerberg’s board.

In an unexpected twist from the start of the season, no SEC teams ended up in the top four. Ohio State and the Irish took first and second, naturally, with the Oregon Ducks and Penn State Nittany Lions in third and fourth.

None of the three other ACC teams from North Carolina finished with a winning record after NC State and the North Carolina Tar Heels lost their bowl battles. The Wolfpack finished 77th on Myerberg’s board and the Tar Heels came in two spots behind them at 79th, and the 4-8 Wake Forest Demon Deacons came in 97th.

ACC will consider a Championship game change that could affect Clemson vs. South Carolina

ACC changes could affect the Clemson vs. South Carolina rivalry.

As Commissioner Jim Phillips outlined ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship, the ACC is exploring changes to its football championship format. The proposed ideas aim to enhance the championship’s importance and improve the league’s representation in the expanded College Football Playoff.

One option involves giving the regular-season champion a bye while second- and third-place teams compete for the ACC title. This approach would crown both a regular-season and postseason champion. Another proposal introduces a four-team playoff, where the top four teams compete in semifinals during the final week of the regular season, with winners advancing to the ACC Championship.

However, logistical challenges remain. Rivalry games with SEC teams, such as Clemson-South Carolina and Florida State-Florida, are traditionally played during the final regular-season weekend, making rescheduling complex. Notre Dame’s independent football status and the ACC’s 17-member structure could also complicate balancing schedules. Additionally, a potential nine-game conference schedule raises concerns about revenue impacts, as teams like Clemson rely on alternating home games with rivals to maintain financial stability.

Phillips emphasized these ideas are in early discussion stages and will require input from coaches and athletic directors, with further talks planned during the league’s winter meetings in Charlotte. The ultimate goal is to increase revenue and competitiveness, giving the ACC a stronger chance to secure multiple playoff spots in the 12-team College Football Playoff era, though no guarantees exist.

Notre Dame lands three transfers, two from ACC programs

When it rains, it pours.

Notre Dame is not in the ACC for football despite playing a certain number of opponents each year in exchange for keeping its independence.

But two players from programs in that conference have chosen to finish their college eligibility with the Irish in 2025. A third player arriving from the Irish’s big rival has multiple seasons of eligibility.

First is North Carolina kicker [autotag]Noah Burnette[/autotag], who will become the Irish’s fourth consecutive transfer at that position. He was successful on 38 of 39 extra-point attempts this past season and 15 of 21 in field-goal attempts. He kicked the extra points for both touchdowns the Tar Heels scored in their 2022 loss to the Irish.

Here’s one game this past season in which he was particularly clutch:

The Irish also landed Louisville defensive lineman [autotag]Jared Dawson[/autotag]. He’s coming off a season in which he established career highs in tackles (19), tackles for loss (7) and sacks (4). He had four tackles when the Cardinals lost to the Irish earlier this season. Here he is after that loss:

Finally, the Irish will welcome USC defensive lineman [autotag]Elijah Hughes[/autotag], who had 12 tackles, three tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks in two seasons with the Trojans. He played against the Irish in each of the past two seasons but didn’t register any statistics. Still, he’s happy about what’s to come:

https://www.instagram.com/elijah._hughes/p/DEs1rvsy9j5/?hl=en&img_index=1

Players are flocking to the Irish, and the program deserves it after what it has done this season even though there still is work to be done.

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Former Georgia star quarterback commits to Miami

Beck is heading to the ACC.

Carson Beck has chosen to delay his NFL aspirations, opting to spend one more season in college football after entering the transfer portal. The former Georgia quarterback announced on Friday his decision to transfer to Miami, where he’ll take over as the Hurricanes’ starting quarterback for his final year of eligibility.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Beck, a redshirt senior, steps in to replace Cam Ward, Miami’s Heisman Trophy finalist from last season. Beck underwent UCL surgery in December, sidelining him for spring practices, but the Hurricanes are counting on him to lead the team’s offense in 2025.

Once projected as a potential first-round draft pick, Beck’s stock took a hit after a turbulent 2024 campaign in which he passed for 3,485 yards and 28 touchdowns but threw 12 interceptions. Across his career at Georgia, Beck amassed 7,912 passing yards with 58 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, completing 68% of his passes.

Rather than enter the NFL Draft, Beck has opted to refine his game for another year, betting on a stronger college season to improve his draft outlook. He showed flashes of potential last season but underwhelmed more often than not.

Beck will look to make a difference for Miami, who finished the 2024 season at 10-3 but stumbled late, dropping three of its last four games, closing the season with a one-point loss to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

UNC, ACC highlighted amongst USA TODAY Sports’ losers in bowl season

The ACC turned in a miserable showing during bowl season.

The North Carolina Tar Heels limped into bowl season during December, hoping to end a tumultuous campaign with one final win.

UNC faced UConn in the Fenway Bowl, which essentially proved to be a home game for the Huskies. Several key North Carolina players missed their postseason matchup due to opt-outs – and it showed on the field, with the Tar Heels losing 27-14 and never able to generate offense or get stops.

The ACC, as a whole, struggled as it tries to prove its worth as a Top-3 conference. Syracuse and Louisville were the only ACC programs to win a bowl game, while UNC, Cal, Pitt, Georgia Tech, Miami (FL), Boston College, NC State, Duke, SMU, Clemson and Virginia Tech all lost.

With the ACC’s lackluster showing in postseason football, it should come as no surprise it was named amongst USA TODAY Sports’ “losers” in bowl season.

“If under much less scrutiny than the SEC, this has been a nightmare run for the ACC, starting with both SMU and Clemson losing on the road in the opening round of the playoff,” USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg wrote. “Overall, the league went 2-11 in bowl play, with wins from Syracuse (Washington State in the Holiday Bowl) and Louisville (Washington in the Sun Bowl). In addition to N.C. State, the worst losses have come from Pittsburgh, which fell 48-46 in six overtimes to Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl; Miami, which dropped a 42-41 decision to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl; and North Carolina, which turned the page to the Bill Belichick era by losing 27-14 to Connecticut in the Fenway Bowl.”

The Tar Heels should give their conference something to be proud of in 2025, thanks to new head coach Bill Belichick, but the ACC is no longer the premier conference it once was.

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UNC’s leading tackler from Fenway Bowl commits to Florida State

UNC will be down one linebacker in 2025…

The Fenway Bowl was another upsetting ending to UNC’s 2024 football season, as North Carolina played primarily with players who didn’t see the field much in 2024, during a 27-14 loss to UConn.

One Tar Heel who saw the field sparingly during regular-season action was freshman linebacker Caleb LaVallee, who actually was one of the rare defensive standouts in the Fenway Bowl.

LaVallee led UNC with nine tackles, recording seven solo stops and one tackle for loss, being one of the few who benefitted from opt-outs and NFL Draft declarations.

Looking ahead at North Carolina’s depth chart, LaVallee would be a likely starting 2025 linebacker.

Unfortunately, the Fenway Bowl is the last we’ll see of LaVallee in a Tar Heels uniform, as the freshman linebacker recently committed to ACC rival Florida State.

The Seminoles (2-10), who suffered through their worst season since 1974, need all the talent and help they can get. UNC beat FSU, 35-11, on November 2 in a game which Omarion Hampton scored five touchdowns.

Not having LaVallee next year will definitely be a loss for North Carolina, but it isn’t roster-altering, as Bill Belichick continues to land commitments in his first offseason as head coach. The Tar Heels’ greatest defensive get, through early January, is former Washington linebacker Khmori House.

Like LaVallee, House is a freshman who played more as the season came to a close. LaVallee totaled 14 tackles (eight solo, six assisted) across five 2024 games, while House collected 33 tackles (19 solo, 14 assisted), forced a fumble, intercepted one pass and deflected four more across nine contests.

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Wake Forest becomes second ACC football team in North Carolina to undergo coaching change

A second in-state Duke football rival will hire a new coach after Wake Forest’s Dave Clawson made the decision to step down.

Wake Forest football coach Dave Clawson will step away from his position at the helm of the Demon Deacons, according to a Monday report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Clawson finished the 2024 season with a second straight 4-8 record, and Wake Forest has won three conference games over the past two seasons. He led the Demon Deacons to seven straight bowl appearances from 2016-22, including an 11-win season in 2021, but the program failed to find its footing since the transfer of longtime quarterback Sam Hartman.

“Clawson is expected to remain with the university in an advisory role,” Thamel wrote, “and the decision to step down was his.”

Clawson will end his 11-year tenure with a 67-69 record, the third-most wins in program history, and no other Wake Forest coach can match his five bowl victories.

The timing of this decision means his final game as head coach will be the Week 14 loss to Duke when [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to [autotag]Jordan Moore[/autotag] on the final play of the game, the final touch on a 14-point comeback.

Wake Forest becomes the second ACC school within the state to need a new head football coach. The North Carolina Tar Heels fired Mack Brown, the winningest coach in school history, after a 6-6 season, but UNC already found legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick to replace him.

Bill Belichick to face National Championship winner in first season

Bill Belichick and another legendary football coach will face off in Kenan Stadium.

All the current hype in college football surrounds the North Carolina Tar Heels – and they aren’t even playing in the College Football Playoff.

UNC will face UConn in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday, the sixth-straight season UNC will play postseason football, but there’s something much larger capturing everyone’s attention.

North Carolina hired longtime NFL legend Bill Belichick as its head coach on Wednesday, December 11. Belichick entered the Tar Heels’ head-coaching search late in the process – as a surprise candidate – but wound up with the job.

Belichick’s hiring is already catching the eye of several big-name recruits, include the Class of 2026’s top-ranked quarterback and a former 5-star defensive lineman.

Speaking of big names, Belichick will face one of the best coaches in college football during UNC’s 2025 football season.

The coach in reference here is Dabo Swinney, Clemson‘s longtime head man, who led his teams to the 2016 and 2018 National Championships. The Tigers are back in the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020 (2021 Sugar Bowl), when they lost to Ohio State.

North Carolina doesn’t know when it will play Clemson, but we do know Clemson will be traveling to Kenan Stadium. Belichick will help the Tar Heels try and snap a 6-game losing streak to the Tigers, who are the standard for ACC football.

Belichick knows a thing or two about big matchups himself, as he won Six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and appeared in the playoffs 19 times (once with the Cleveland Browns).

Facing Clemson will be a great “welcome to college football” moment for Belichick. Then again, the greatest coach of all time doesn’t need any introduction.

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