Eleven football teams around the ACC will play throughout the country on Saturday.
Saturday’s slate of games will feature longstanding rivalries, in-state showdowns, ACC debuts and more.
Three conference games will be on the docket, including NC State at #21 Clemson, Georgia Tech at #19 Louisville, and Cal at Florida State.
NC State at #21 Clemson
Saturday, Sept. 21, Noon ET
Series: Clemson leads series, 60-30-1
Last meeting: NC State, 24-17 (2023)
ABC: Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Molly McGrath (sideline)
School Radio Feed: NC State / Clemson
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 82 / SiriusXM 371
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 82 / SiriusXM 371
Preview: Clemson looks to pick up its 800th win in program history in the Textile Bowl against NC State. The Tigers would become just the 14th program in FBS history to eclipse the 800-win threshold. Clemson is throwing for over 300 yards per game and enters the week as the No. 25 passing offense in the country, while boasting the 19th-best passing efficiency (169.22).
NC State has not defeated Clemson in Death Valley since 2002. However, the Wolfpack has won two of the last three meetings against Clemson. NC State will make a change at quarterback with freshman CJ Bailey getting the nod at Clemson. Bailey completed 13-of-20 passes against Louisiana Tech for 156 yards and an interception, while adding a rushing touchdown. KC Concepcion has been the top NC State receiver this season, ranking 13th nationally in both receptions per game (7.3) and receiving touchdowns (5).
James Madison at North Carolina
Saturday, Sept. 21, Noon ET
Series: North Carolina leads series, 3-0
Last meeting: North Carolina, 56-28 (2016)
ACCN: Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Orlando Franklin (analyst), Morgan Uber (sideline)
School Radio Feed: North Carolina
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 161 / SiriusXM 193
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 955 / SiriusXM 979
Preview: The Tar Heels are 3-0 for the third consecutive season, marking the first time that North Carolina has done so since 1979-71. North Carolina ran for an ACC-best 330 yards in Week 3 against N.C. Central, gaining 8.0 yards per carry and scoring five rushing touchdowns. The Tar Heels have the second-best rushing offense in the ACC this season, logging 248.7 yards per game. Omarion Hampton leads the ACC and ranks fourth in the FBS with 416 rushing yards this season. The Tar Heels’ Jahvaree Ritzie leads the ACC and ranks second nationally in sacks per game, averaging 1.67. James Madison is off to a 2-0 start to the season with wins over Charlotte and Gardner-Webb after going 11-2 in 2023 with a trip to the Armed Forces Bowl.
Virginia at Coastal Carolina
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2 p.m. ET
Series: First Meeting
Last meeting: N/A
ESPN+: Jeff McCarragher (play-by-play), Nate Ross (analyst)
School Radio Feed: Virginia
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 111 / SiriusXM 202
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 964 / SiriusXM 986
Preview: Virginia looks to bounce back from a Week 3 loss to Maryland, entering the Coastal Carolina contest with a 2-1 record. Virginia has been penalized just 3.33 times per game, which is the fewest in the ACC and 12th-fewest in the country. Anthony Colandrea has completed 23.67 passes per game for Virginia. He has also thrown for 901 yards and five touchdowns while recording a passer rating of 150.7. Virginia’s Jonas Sanker ranks second in the ACC in solo tackles, averaging 5.3 per game. Coastal Carolina has started the season a perfect 3-0 with wins over Jacksonville State, William & Mary and Temple.
Georgia Tech at #19 Louisville
Saturday, Sept. 21, 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: Georgia Tech leads series, 2-1
Last meeting: Louisville, 39-34 (2023)
ESPN2: Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Georgia Tech / Louisville
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 81 / SiriusXM 371
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 81 / SiriusXM 371
Preview: Georgia Tech and Louisville have each been extremely successful through the air this season, completing over 72-percent of their passes. Both teams also boast a top-six rushing defense in the ACC, allowing less than 100 yards per game. Louisville’s offense has been explosive throughout the year, boasting the No. 3 scoring offense in the country at 55.5 points per game. The Cardinals’ defense has also been stellar, allowing just 28 first downs this season – best in the ACC and third-fewest throughout the FBS.
On the contrary, Georgia Tech has picked up the fourth-most first downs in the FBS, logging 89. The Yellow Jackets are one of eight teams throughout the FBS that has not allowed a sack yet this season. Oklahoma State and Rutgers are the only other Power 4 teams without a sack allowed. Georgia Tech looks to pick up its second win in ACC play after defeating Florida State in Week 0 in Dublin, Ireland, during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
Rutgers at Virginia Tech
Saturday, Sept. 21, 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: Virginia Tech leads series, 12-4
Last meeting: Rutgers, 35-16 (2023)
ACCN: Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Virginia Tech
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 108 / SiriusXM 161 / SiriusXM 193 / SiriusXM 197
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 955 / SiriusXM 959
Preview: From 1993 to 2012, Virginia Tech won 12 consecutive games against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights finally snapped their skid last season, winning 35-16 in New Jersey. Bhayshul Tuten has been the offensive leader for the Hokies, averaging 89.67 rushing yards per game and is tied for the ACC lead with four rushing touchdowns. Tuten ranks third in the ACC in rushing yards, logging 269 yards and a 5.17 yards per carry average through the first three weeks. Rutgers is off to a 2-0 start to the 2024 campaign, defeating Akron and Howard, scoring at least 44 points in each contest. The Scarlet Knights went 7-6 in 2023, knocking off Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Youngstown State at Pitt
Saturday, Sept. 21, 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: Pitt leads series, 4-1
Last meeting: Pitt, 28-21 (2017)
ACCNX: Doug Sherman (play-by-play), Forrest Conoly (analyst)
School Radio Feed: Pitt
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 98 / SiriusXM 194
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 956
Preview: Pitt scored 14 unanswered points to overcome a 10-point deficit against West Virginia, its second straight win over a Big 12 opponent. Prior to Pitt’s win, teams were 0-150 this season when trailing by double-digits with four minutes left in the game. Eli Holstein, three-time ACC Rookie of the Week, threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns against the Mountaineers, becoming the first freshman in Pitt history to throw for 300 or more yards in three consecutive games. Pitt also became the first team since Tulsa in 2020 to overcome double-digit fourth-quarter deficits and win in back-to-back games. Youngstown State enters with a 1-2 record this season after going 8-5 in 2023, reaching the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
Duke at Middle Tennessee
Saturday, Sept. 21, 4 p.m. ET
Series: Duke leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: Duke, 41-18 (2019)
ESPNU: Matt Schumacker (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst)
School Radio Feed: Duke
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 382
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 972 / SiriusXM 995
Preview: Nobody in the ACC has thrown the ball more this season than Maalik Murphy, who has thrown for 801 yards on 122 attempts, including eight touchdowns. Last week, Star Thomas ran for 122 yards against UConn, marking his first time eclipsing 100 rushing yards as a Blue Devil. Duke’s Eli Pancol is tied for the ACC lead and fourth throughout the FBS with four receiving touchdowns on the year. Pancol has caught 13 passes for 161 yards this year, as he has helped Duke get out to a 3-0 start to the season. Middle Tennessee enters the Duke contest on a two-game losing streak, falling to Ole Miss and Western Kentucky.
TCU at SMU
Saturday, Sept. 21, 5 p.m. ET
Series: TCU leads series, 53-42-7
Last meeting: TCU, 34-17 (2023)
The CW: Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst), Treavor Scales (sideline)
School Radio Feed: SMU
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 111 / SiriusXM 202 / SiriusXM 383
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 964 / SiriusXM 973
Preview: SMU and TCU will meet for the 103rd time in the Battle for the Iron Skillet at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday evening. The Mustangs look to break a recent drought against the Horned Frogs, dropping nine of the past 11 meetings. From 1971 to 1986, SMU won 15 consecutive meetings against TCU and controlled possession of the Iron Skillet. The Mustangs will make a change at quarterback, turning to redshirt sophomore Kevin Jennings, who has thrown for 342 yards and a touchdown this season. SMU ranks second in the ACC in total takeaways (6), highlighted by four interceptions, which is the third-best in the league. TCU enters the regional rivalry with a 2-1 record this season, knocking off Stanford, 34-27, in a Week 1 showdown.
Cal at Florida State
Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. ET
Series: First Meeting
Last meeting: N/A
ESPN2: Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Sam Acho (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Cal / Florida State
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 98 / SiriusXM 194 / SiriusXM 385
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 956 / SiriusXM 975
Preview: Cal will play its first conference game as a member of the ACC on Saturday when it travels to Tallahassee to meet Florida State. The Golden Bears have posted a perfect 3-0 start to the season and have gotten strong offensive production from Nyziah Hunter, who is tied for the ACC lead with four receiving touchdowns. Cal’s Nohl Williams is the first ACC player since 2021 to begin the season with an interception in each of his team’s first three games. He is also just the fifth ACC player since 2004 to achieve the feat.
Cal’s trip to Tallahassee will be just the second time a team from California has ever played at Doak Campbell Stadium as the Seminoles defeated No. 18 USC, 30-10, in 1998. The Seminoles, who were selected as the ACC preseason favorites, are still searching for their first win of the 2024 season. Cam Riley leads the Florida State defense with 6.33 tackles per game, including 10 solo tackles this season. Daniel Lyons ranks 10th in the ACC, averaging 0.83 sacks per game this season.
#8 Miami at South Florida
Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. ET
Series: Miami leads series, 5-1
Last meeting: Miami, 49-21 (2013)
ESPN: Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), Kris Budden (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Miami
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 81
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 81
Preview: The eighth-ranked Hurricanes are coming off of their largest-ever shutout against an FBS opponent – a 62-0 thrashing of Ball State. Miami averaged 10.6 yards per play on its way to racking up a program-record 750 yards of total offense. The Hurricanes rank third in the country, averaging 609.3 yards of offense per game this season. Cam Ward continues to make his case as a Heisman Trophy candidate. The Washington State transfer has thrown for 1,035 yards this season – one of just three FBS players to break the 1,000-yard threshold. Ward also leads the country with 11 passing touchdowns entering Week 4. In-state foes USF are off to a 2-1 start to the season with its lone loss coming on the road to No. 4 Alabama. The Bulls went 7-6 in 2023, highlighted by a win over Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Michigan State at Boston College
Saturday, Sept. 21, 8 p.m. ET
Series: Boston College leads series, 4-1-1
Last meeting: Boston College, 24-21 (2007)
ACCN: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Dana Boyle (sideline)
School Radio Feed: Boston College
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 108 / SiriusXM 161 / SiriusXM 193 / SiriusXM 197
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 955 / SiriusXM 959
Preview: This weekend, Boston College and Michigan State will square off for the first time since the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando – a game in which Matt Ryan (Boston College) and Brian Hoyer (Michigan State) were the starting quarterbacks. Ryan and Hoyer went on to play in a combined 313 NFL games, throwing for 73,691 passing yards. Saturday will be the annual “Red Bandana Game” for Boston College, honoring the life of former BC lacrosse student-athlete Welles Crowther, who saved the lives of at least 18 people during the September 11, 2001, attacks. The Eagles lead the ACC and rank eighth nationally, averaging 16.54 yards per completion this season. Thomas Castellanos ranks second in the ACC and fourth nationally with nine passing touchdowns this season after throwing 15 in all of the 2023 season. Michigan State is a perfect 3-0 on the season, making Jonathan Smith the first Spartans head coach to begin his Michigan State tenure at 3-0 since Mark Dantonio in 2007.
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Chris Graham
