Week 1 of the 2025 college football season gives the Atlantic Coast Conference six chances to compete against Power Four schools in nonconference competition. The ACC is looked at in most circles as a distant third competitively behind the SEC and Big Ten, and slightly ahead of the Big 12.
The only Power Four conference not facing an ACC school in week 1 is the Big Ten. Five SEC schools, two Big 12 schools and Notre Dame will play at four ACC venues, one Big 12 stadium and two at neutral site venues.
The opportunities are there for the ACC to show the college football world that they are not that far away from the SEC and Big Ten competitively. The entirety of the 2025 season will determine how far behind the ACC is, but week 1 can get the conference off to a good start to convince the naysayers that the ACC is a strong football conference. The question is: can the ACC get the wins?
Georgia Tech at Colorado
Friday, August 29, 2025, 8:00 pm ET on ESPN
The Yellow Jackets (9-4, 5-3 ACC) finished tied for fourth in the ACC in 2024. Georgia Tech was not hit hard by the transfer portal and returns a lot of experience this year. Colorado, on the other hand, loses a lot of production offensively including Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and star quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Traveling cross country has not been kind over the years to most programs so expect this game to be closer than the experts predict. I expect Tech to come out on top in this game giving the ACC a 1-0 start to week 1.
Syracuse -v- Tennessee
Saturday, August 30, 2025, Noon ET on ABC (Atlanta, GA)
The Orange (10-3, 5-3) finished in the log jam for fourth place in the ACC. When you look at Syracuse and Tennessee they have a similar problem coming into the 2025 season: both lost their starting quarterbacks from last year. The loss for Syracuse is bigger because Kyle McCord set Syracuse passing records last season while Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava struggled at times in his first season as a starter. Many key players for the Orange return in 2025 but the quarterback void will be tough to fill. Even though this game is being played at a neutral site, the crowd will be heavily slanted toward Tennessee. I don’t see how Syracuse will come out on top in this game. ACC 1-1
Alabama at Florida State
Saturday, August 30, 2025, 3:30 pm ET on ABC
Oh how the mighty have fallen! Just one season removed from a 13-1 record, Florida State (2-10, 1-7) fell to last in the ACC in 2024. When that happens at a place like Florida State, many changes follow. The Seminoles were able to lure former UCF head coach Gus Malzahn to Tallahassee to be the new offensive coordinator. Former Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos transferred in to lead the offense for Mike Norvell’s squad. However, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer has a typical stacked Alabama team. He is replacing his quarterback as well, Ty Simpson is the most experienced and most likely to be QB1. If the Noles can pull off the upset it would be huge for the ACC, I just don’t see that happening. ACC 1-2
LSU at Clemson
Saturday, August 30, 2025, 7:30 pm ET on ABC
The Clemson Tigers (10-4, 7-1) finished second in the ACC in 2024. The Tigers beat SMU in the ACC Championship Game and made the College Football Playoff, losing to Notre Dame. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik is arguably the best quarterback in college football. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is definitely in that discussion as well. A lot of experience returns on defense for Clemson, which should cause fits for the LSU offense. Both teams are the Tigers and call their home stadiums Death Valley. This game is being played at Clemson’s version of Death Valley and Clemson will get the win at home. ACC 2-2
Virginia Tech -v- South Carolina (Atlanta, GA)
Sunday, August 31, 2025, 3:00 pm ET on ESPN
The Hokies (6-7, 4-4) finished .500 in ACC play last season and tied for eighth place in the standings. The Hokies finished under .500 overall as they lost the Duke’s Mayo Bowl to Minnesota. Head coach Brent Pry brought in a large number of transfers who will have a difficult time keeping up with the Gamecocks and their sensational quarterback LaNorris Sellers. South Carolina is too talented and will take control of this game early. ACC 2-3
Notre Dame at Miami
Sunday, August 31, 2025, 3:30 pm ET on ABC
While the Hurricanes (10-3, 6-2) finished third in the ACC in 2024, the expectation in Coral Gables is to make the CFP. Miami failed to do that and the seat under head coach Mario Cristobal is getting hotter. Miami is breaking in a new quarterback, Georgia transfer Carson Beck. Getting the Canes into the playoff is the primary goal for Miami, and beating the Fighting Irish at home would be a good resume builder. Notre Dame is, again, replacing their previous year QB as Riley Leonard has graduated. However, this time around the Irish don’t have a proven veteran transferring in. The Irish will more than likely use two QB’s, CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey. As the saying goes, if you have to use two quarterbacks you have no quarterback. I’ll take the leadership of Beck in his Canes’ debut in this one. ACC 3-3
TCU at North Carolina
Monday, September 1, 2025, 8:00 pm ET on ESPN
What a way for one of the best football coaches ever to make his debut. Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels (6-7, 3-5) host TCU on Labor Day, the only football game in that time slot. While TCU has not been a great program since their appearance in the 2023 National Championship, the Horned Frogs are no pushovers. But Belichick will be dealing with massive roster turnover, as is typical with a new head coach at a college program. The excitement of Belichick’s debut will be felt, but the game will belong to TCU and head coach Sonny Dykes. Returning QB Josh Hoover threw for 3,949 yards in 2024. This game may get ugly quick. ACC 3-4
There are some golden opportunities for the ACC to get solid wins over their Power Four brethren. The season is still 2 1/2 months away, but for the most part, rosters are set. Before we know it fall camps will be opening and the beginning of the 2025 season will be here. There may be some upsets, some overestimations of some teams, and underestimations of others. But there are some great chances for the ACC to enhance the way people see the conference in week 1. The conference needs its teams to get wins in these crucial nonconference games.