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Football

Seven Games on Tap, Six Key Conference Showdowns Highlight Week 11 Slate

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Week 11 of the ACC Football season features seven exciting matchups across the league, including six critical conference games that could shape the championship race.

Week 11 - ACC Football Schedule
(all times Eastern Time)

Saturday, November 8
SMU at Boston College | Noon | ACC Network
Series: SMU leads series, 2-1-0
Last meeting: SMU, 38-28 (2024)
 
Syracuse at #18 Miami | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Series: Miami leads series, 16-8-0
Last meeting: Syracuse, 42-38 (2024)

Duke at UConn | 3:30 p.m. | CBS Sports Network
Series: Series tied, 2-2-0
Last meeting: Duke, 26-21 (2024)
 
Stanford at North Carolina | 4:30 p.m. | The CW
Series: Stanford leads series, 2-1-0
Last meeting: Stanford, 25-23 (2016)
 
Wake Forest at #14 Virginia | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Series: Virginia leads series, 35-17-0
Last meeting: Virginia, 31-30 (2024)

California at #15 Louisville | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
Series: First Meeting
 
Florida State at Clemson | 7 p.m. | ACC Network
Series: Florida State leads series, 21-16-0
Last meeting: Clemson, 29-13 (2024)
 

ACC Football Notes
 
Multiple Teams Ranked in the Top 25
  • The ACC had five teams ranked in the first edition of the 2025 College Football Playoff rankings on November 4.
    • CFP: Virginia (No. 14), Louisville (No. 15), Georgia Tech (No. 17), Miami (No. 18) and Pitt (No. 24).
  • 1 of 2 conferences with 4 teams or more ranked in the top 18 in the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
    • 4 teams in the AP Poll: Virginia (No. 12), Louisville (No. 14), Georgia Tech (No. 16) and Miami (No. 18).
    • 4 teams in the Coaches Poll: Virginia (No. 11), Georgia Tech (No. 14), Louisville (No. 15) and Miami (No. 18).
 
 ACC with Multiple Top-10 Wins
  • The ACC is one of three conferences with multiple top-10 victories so far this season: Florida State over No. 8 Alabama (Aug. 30), Miami over No. 6 Notre Dame (Aug. 31), Virginia over No. 8 Florida State (Sept. 26), Louisville over No. 2 Miami (Oct. 17), NC State over No. 8 Georgia Tech (Nov. 1) and SMU over No. 10 Miami (Nov. 1).
  • The ACC has had six different teams defeat an AP Top 10 opponent (at time of game) this season. That is the second most among all FBS conferences. (Stats Perform)
 
Close Finishes Highlight ACC Play
  • 18 (18 of 44; 40.9%) conference games so far this season have been decided by one score (8 points or fewer), second-most among the Power 4 conferences.
  • The average margin of victory in ACC league games this year is 13.4 points, the second smallest among all FBS conferences.
  • The ACC has had six conference games this season that have gone into overtime, the most among all FBS conferences. That is the most for the ACC in any season all-time and the most by any FBS conference in a single campaign since the Big Ten in 2016 (also six).
  • The ACC has six different teams that are 4-1 or better in conference play this season, tied for the most among all FBS conferences.
  • From 2021–24, 107 of 236 ACC conference games (45.3%) were decided by eight points or fewer.
  • In 2024 alone, 34 of 68 league games (50%) were one-possession outcomes.
 
Road Warriors in Conference Play
  • Through the first 10 weeks of the season, ACC road teams have posted a 24-20 record in conference contests.

Strongest Non-Conference Schedule
  • Through the first 10 weeks of the season, ACC teams have played 19 non-conference games against peer Power 4 opponents and Notre Dame – the most of any conference – ACC – 19; Big 12 – 14; SEC – 14; Big Ten – 12.
  • The ACC has seven games remaining against peer P4 and Notre Dame this season, three more than the other three conferences combined – SEC (4), Big Ten (0) and Big 12 (0).
  • ACC teams are scheduled to play 26 games against peer Power 4 conference opponents and Notre Dame in 2025, the most of any conference by at least eight games – ACC – 26; SEC – 18; Big 12 – 14; Big Ten – 12.
  • The ACC has the strongest non-conference strength of schedule among the Power 4 conferences with its non-conference opponents’ winning percentage at 48.0 percent. (Sport Source Analytics)
 
Looking to Go Bowling
  • The ACC has six teams that have already clinched bowl eligibility with at least six wins this season.
  • Georgia Tech became the first ACC team to punch its bowl ticket, earning its sixth win with a 35-20 victory over Virginia Tech on Oct. 11 (Week 7).
  • Virginia followed a week later, clinching bowl eligibility after a 22-20 win over Washington State on Oct. 18 (Week 8).
  • Week 9 (Oct. 25) saw a flurry of teams reach the mark - Pitt rolled past NC State, 53-34, Miami dominated Stanford, 42-7, and Louisville handled Boston College, 38-24.
  • In Week 10 (Nov. 1), SMU became the sixth ACC team to qualify for postseason play, outlasting then-No. 10 Miami 26-20 in overtime on Homecoming Weekend.
  • Now, three more ACC programs are knocking on the door of bowl eligibility entering Week 11: California, Duke and Wake Forest.
 
ACC is Again the Conference of Quarterbacks
  • Quarterbacks in the ACC have recorded a total of 33 300-yard passing games this season - the most of all FBS conferences.
  • Quarterbacks in the ACC have recorded a total of 4 400-yard passing games this season – tied for the most of all FBS conferences.
  • 18 different quarterbacks in the ACC this season have thrown three or more touchdowns in a game – the most of all FBS conferences.
  • 16 different quarterbacks in the ACC have recorded at least one 300+ yard passing game this season – the most of all FBS conferences.
  • 13 quarterbacks in the ACC have thrown 10 or more touchdown passes this season – tied for the most of all FBS conferences.
  • 8 quarterbacks in the ACC rank among the nation's passing leaders this season with an average of 236.0 or more passing yards per game – the most of all FBS conferences.
  • 8 quarterbacks in the ACC rank in the top 40 of the NCAA in completion percentage – the most of all FBS conferences.
  • 5 quarterbacks in the ACC rank in the top 27 in ESPN’s QBR on the season.
  • 5 quarterbacks in the ACC were named to the 20025 Davey O’Brien QB Class.
  • 4 quarterbacks in the ACC were named to the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 10.
 
ACC is Loaded with Preeminent Players
  • 34 different players in the ACC have recorded at least one 100-yard receiving game this season.
  • 24 different players in the ACC have rushed for 100+ yards in a game this season.
  • 9 players in the ACC with five or more receiving touchdowns on the season.
  • 7 players in the ACC have rushed for eight or more touchdowns on the season.
  • 5 players in the ACC rank in the top 35 in the NCAA in receiving yards per game.
  • 5 players in the ACC rank in the top 35 in the NCAA in receiving yards on the season.
  • 5 players in the ACC rank in the top 30 in the NCAA in average yards per punt return.
  • 5 placekickers in the ACC have made 12 field goals or more on the season.
  • 5 players in the ACC rank in the top 35 in the NCAA in tackles per game.
  • 4 players in the ACC rank in the top 25 in the NCAA in yards per carry – the most of all FBS conferences.
  • 4 players in the ACC rank in the top 20 in the NCAA in receptions per game – the most of all FBS conferences.
  • 4 players in the ACC rank in the top 20 in the NCAA in points per game.
  • 4 players in the ACC rank in the top 30 in the NCAA in all-purpose yards per game.
 
ACC = Big Plays
  • The ACC has 13 teams that rank in the top 45 of the NCAA in passing offense – the most of all FBS conferences.
  • This season, ACC teams have combined for 323 offensive “big plays” that have gone for at least 30 yards – the most of all FBS conferences.
  • ACC teams have combined to record 538 pass plays of 20 yards or more this season – the most of all FBS conferences.
  • In the ACC this season, there have been 51 touchdown runs of at least 25 yards – the most of all FBS conferences.
 
ACC x NFL
  • No conference blends college football and NFL experience quite like the ACC in 2025, with three former NFL head coaches now leading programs: Bill O’Brien (Boston College), Bill Belichick (North Carolina) and Frank Reich (Stanford), the most of any conference.
  • Belichick (six Super Bowl wins) and Reich (one) are the only two college football head coaches who have also won a Super Bowl as either head coach or coordinator in the NFL.
  • Several ACC programs also feature General Managers with deep NFL ties, including Ron Rivera (Cal), John Garrett (Duke), Michael Lombardi (North Carolina) and Andrew Luck (Stanford), along with a growing number of former NFL stars contributing across coaching staffs and player development roles.  
 
ACC and ESPN/ACCN Enhanced Instant Replay Transparency
  • Week 11 will feature the ACC Network Saturday Night Primetime Game on ESPN/ACCN Enhanced Instant Replay Access, as Clemson hosts Florida State at 7 p.m. ET.
  • First-of-its-kind collaboration modernizing the fan experience.
  • Fans will hear real-time officiating deliberations on ESPN/ESPN2’s Friday night games and ACCN primetime Saturdays.
  • ACC was the only league providing this level of access in select games in 2024 and the start of 2025, setting a new standard for college football.
 
Future ACC Football Scheduling Model
  • The Athletic Directors of the 17 ACC football-playing institutions overwhelmingly supported a regular season schedule that includes nine conference games and a minimum of 10 games each year against Power 4 opponents.
  • This positions the ACC as one of only two leagues committed to having every team annually play a minimum of 10 games against Power 4 teams.
  • Most teams will begin playing nine conference games plus one P4 game in 2026; however, multiple teams will play eight conference games and two P4 non-conference opponents to accommodate for currently scheduled non-conference games as part of the transition to the new model.
  • The nine-game league schedule will be fully implemented in 2027, with 16 teams playing nine league games and one that will play eight conference games plus two P4 non-conference games.
  • Per the Conference constitution, the 9+1 scheduling model will be presented to the FAR for formal adoption.