Ten teams from the ACC will battle on the gridiron on Saturday, including nine teams who are playing their first game of the season.
Georgia Tech is the lone team to have already played this season, recording a Top 10 win in Dublin, Ireland, last weekend as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
The ACC slate will also feature an AP Top 25 matchup, rivalry contests, first time meetings, in-state foes and more.
#14 Clemson vs. #1 Georgia
Saturday, Aug. 31, Noon ET
Series: Georgia leads series, 43-18-4
Last meeting: Georgia, 10-3 (2021)
ESPN: Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Molly McGrath (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Clemson
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 81 / SiriusXM 82 / SiriusXM 381
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 81 / SiriusXM 82 / SiriusXM 971
Preview: The Top 15 matchup between the Tigers and Bulldogs to begin the season will be the focal point of college football in Week 1. Clemson, who enters the season ranked 14th, has won 12 of its last 14 season openers but will have its hands full with the top-ranked team in the country. Clemson is one of two teams throughout the country to have won at least nine games in each of the past 13 seasons and boasts a 30-12 record versus AP Top 25 teams during the College Football Playoff era. However, Georgia is 8-0 in season openers under Kirby Smart and have won at least 10 games in 10 of the past 13 seasons.
Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt
Saturday, Aug. 31, Noon ET
Series: Virginia Tech leads series, 6-3
Last meeting: Virginia Tech, 18-0 (1989)
ESPN: Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Virginia Tech
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 106 / SiriusXM 113 / SiriusXM 190 / SiriusXM 202
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 960 / SiriusXM 964
Preview: Excitement is high surrounding the Hokies with the team on the cusp of cracking the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2021. The Hokies closed 2023 on a high note, winning three of the final four games, including the Military Bowl presented by GoBowling.com over No. 23 Tulane. After winning just one non-conference game last season, the Hokies posted a 5-3 mark in ACC play to earn bowl eligibility. Vanderbilt seeks to ruin the excitement and looks to bounce back from a 2-10 record in 2023, including a winless 0-8 mark in SEC contests.
Kent State at Pitt
Saturday, Aug. 31, Noon ET
Series: Pitt leads series, 7-0
Last meeting: Pitt, 43-3 (2003)
ESPNU: Matt Schumacker (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst)
School Radio Feed: Pitt
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 139 / SiriusXM 194
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 83 / SiriusXM 956
Preview: Pat Narduzzi is entering his 10th season leading Pitt and looks to build upon a history of success. Narduzzi’s 65 career wins with the Panthers ranks second in program history and Pitt has defeated at least one ranked opponent in each of the past eight seasons. Pitt opens the 2024 state against Kent State with the Panthers boasting a perfect 7-0 record in all-time meetings with the Golden Flashes. Kent State finished 1-11 in 2023 with its lone win coming at home over Central Connecticut State.
Austin Peay at Louisville
Saturday, Aug. 31, Noon ET
Series: First Meeting
Last meeting: N/A
ACCN: Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Orlando Franklin (analyst), Morgan Uber (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Louisville
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 138 / SiriusXM 193
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 955
Preview: Going into the second year under head coach Jeff Brohm, plenty has changed in the Cardinals’ locker room. Louisville has added 41 new players to this year’s team with 27 coming via the transfer portal and the other 14 signing out of high school. But things have also stayed the same for the Cardinals as 11 players return after making at least five starts last season. Louisville went 10-4 in Brohm’s first season, including a 7-1 mark in ACC play and a spot in the 2023 ACC Football Championship Game. Austin Peay went 9-3 last season, including a spotless 6-0 record in United Athletic Conference games. The Governors reached the FCS Playoffs before falling to No. 18 Chattanooga.
Ohio at Syracuse
Saturday, Aug. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: Syracuse leads series, 3-0
Last meeting: Syracuse, 29-9 (2021)
ACCN: Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Syracuse
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 139 / SiriusXM 194
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 956 / SiriusXM 984
Preview: First year head coach Fran Brown looks to turn heads throughout his first season after serving as the defensive backs coach at Georgia. Brown inherits a Syracuse team that went 6-7 in 2023 and made an appearance in the Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl. Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord will be the Orange’s quarterback to start the season after throwing for more than 3,100 yards and 24 touchdowns last season for the Buckeyes. Ohio will be no easy first task for McCord and Co., posting a 10-3 record last year, highlighted by a 41-21 victory over Georgia Southern in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
#19 Miami at Florida
Saturday, Aug. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: Miami leads series, 29-27
Last meeting: Florida, 24-20 (2019)
ESPN: Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst), Katie George (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Miami
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 132 / SiriusXM 138 / SiriusXM 192 / SiriusXM 193
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 955 / SiriusXM 962
Preview: There are few better ways to learn what you’re made of than to go on the road and battle your rivals. The 19th-ranked Hurricanes will do just that as they travel to Gainesville to face Florida in Week 1. The Canes look to snap the Gators’ NCAA-best 33-game home opener winning streak that dates back to 1989. In 56 previous meetings between the two schools, Miami holds a 29-27 advantage in the all-time series. Miami will look to get a spark offensively from Washington State transfer and ACC Preseason Player of the Year Cam Ward, who has thrown for nearly 14,000 yards in his career, adding 135 total touchdowns. Florida went 5-7 in 2023, including a 3-5 record in SEC play, missing a bowl game for just the third time in 32 years.
UC Davis at California
Saturday, Aug. 31, 5 p.m. ET
Series: Cal leads series, 11-0
Last meeting: Cal, 34-13 (2022)
ACCNX: Roxy Bernstein (play-by-play), Craig Haubert (analyst), Sherree Burruss (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Cal
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 113 / SiriusXM 202
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 964
Preview: Cal will be making its ACC debut on Saturday afternoon when the Golden Bears host FCS foe UC Davis. The two schools are separated by just over 60 miles but have only played 11 times previously with Cal winning each contest. The Golden Bears went 6-7 in their final Pac-12 season, closing the regular season on a three-game winning streak before heading to the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. Preseason All-American running back Jaydn Ott has logged more than 2,200 yards throughout his two-year college career as he looks to lead Cal in 2024. UC Davis posted a 7-4 record in 2023, including a 5-3 mark in Big Sky play, and closed the year on a three-game winning streak.
Richmond at Virginia
Saturday, Aug. 31, 6 p.m. ET
Series: Virginia leads series, 30-3-2
Last meeting: Virginia, 34-17 (2022)
ACCNX: Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Forrest Conoly (analyst)
School Radio Feed: Virginia
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 103 / SiriusXM 203
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 965
Preview: Tony Elliott’s third season at Virginia will begin in Charlottesville as the Cavaliers open the season versus in-state rival Richmond. The Cavaliers will be led by Anthony Colandrea in the season opener after setting the school’s freshman single-season records for completions (154), passing yards (1,958) and total offense (2,183) last year. Additionally, he threw for more passing yards than any other true freshman Power 5 quarterback. The Hoos are looking to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2019 when they appeared in the Capital One Orange Bowl. On the other sideline, Richmond posted a 9-4 record last season, reaching the second round of the FCS Playoffs by defeating No. 13/16 North Carolina Central in the opening round.
Georgia State at Georgia Tech
Saturday, Aug. 31, 8 p.m. ET
Series: First meeting
Last meeting: N/A
ACCN: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Dana Boyle (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Georgia Tech
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 138 / SiriusXM 193
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 955 / SiriusXM 985
Preview: Despite the Georgia Tech and Georgia State campuses being separated by less than two miles, Saturday, August 30, will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron. After defeating No. 10 Florida State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, last week, the Yellow Jackets look to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2016. Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King was one of only two Power Five conference players with at least 2,800 passing yards, 700 rushing yards, 25 touchdown passes and 10 touchdown runs in 2023, joining Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.
Houston Christian at SMU
Saturday, Aug. 31, 8 p.m. ET
Series: SMU leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: SMU, 62-27 (2018)
ACCNX: David Saltzman (play-by-play), Tyoka Jackson (analyst)
School Radio Feed: SMU
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 139 / SiriusXM 194
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 956
Preview: After a Week 0 win in Reno, Nevada, the Mustangs will return to Dallas, Texas, for their first home game as an ACC member. SMU will welcome in-state opponent Houston Christian to town for the home opener. Mustang tight end RJ Maryland was named ACC Receiver of the Week after turning in the best performance of his Mustang career, finishing with career bests in catches (eight) and receiving yards (162). Houston Christian posted a 6-5 record in 2023, including a 4-3 record in Southland Conference play. The Huskies won four of their final five contests to close the year.
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Chris Graham
