Football

Seven Conference Matchups Highlight Pivotal Weekend in Week 9

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Week 9 of ACC football features a full slate of seven conference games over the weekend, October 24-25, including one Friday night matchup and six on Saturday, as the conference regular-season standings begin to take shape.
 
All four nationally ranked ACC teams will be in action, while six teams have the opportunity to clinch bowl eligibility with a win.
 
Headlining the weekend is the “South’s Oldest Rivalry," as traditional foes meet once again in one of college football’s most storied matchups when North Carolina hosts No. 16 Virginia on Saturday at Noon ET on ACC Network.
 
The schedule also includes three first-time conference clashes, underscoring the league’s expanded competitive landscape, in California at Virginia Tech (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET/ESPN), SMU at Wake Forest (Saturday, Noon ET/The CW), and Stanford at No. 9 Miami (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET/ ESPN).
 
The other three league contests include Syracuse at No. 7 Georgia Tech (Saturday, Noon ET/ESPN), NC State on the road at Pitt (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET/ACCN), and No. 19 Louisville hosting Boston College (7:30 p.m. ET/ACCN).


Week 9 - ACC Football Schedule
(all times Eastern Time)
 
Friday, October 24
California at Virginia Tech | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Series: California leads series, 1-0-0
Last meeting: California, 52-49 (2003)

Saturday, October 25
Syracuse at #7 Georgia Tech | Noon | ESPN
Series: Georgia Tech leads series, 4-2-0
Last meeting: Syracuse, 31-28 (2024)
 
#16 Virginia at North Carolina | Noon | ACC Network
Series: North Carolina leads series, 66-59-4
Last meeting: North Carolina, 41-14 (2024)

SMU at Wake Forest | Noon | The CW
Series: SMU leads series, 3-0-0
Last meeting: SMU, 14-7 (1975)
 
NC State at Pitt | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network
Series: Series tied, 5-5-1
Last meeting: NC State, 30-29 (2020)

Stanford at #9 Miami | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Series: First Meeting
 
Boston College at #19 Louisville | 7:30 p.m. | ACC Network
Series: Louisville leads series, 10-7-0
Last meeting: Louisville, 31-27 (2024)
 

ACC Football Notes
 
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.

ACC and ESPN/ACCN Enhanced Instant Replay Transparency
  • Week 9 will feature two games with ESPN/ACCN Enhanced Instant Replay Access, the Friday night contest between California and Virginia Tech (7:30 p.m. ET/ESPN) and ESPN’s Saturday noon contest between Syracuse and No. 7 Georgia Tech.
  • 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.

Three ACC Teams Remain Unbeaten in Conference
  • Heading into Week 9, three ACC teams are unbeaten in conference play, the most of any Power 4 conference.
    • Georgia Tech (4-0), SMU (3-0) and Virginia (3-0)
 
Four Teams Ranked in the Top 25
  • The ACC had four teams ranked in both the AP Top 25 and US LBM Coaches Poll this week, Week 9 (October 19).
    • AP Poll: Georgia Tech (No. 7), Miami (No. 9), Virginia (No. 16) and Louisville (No. 19)
    • Coaches Poll: Georgia Tech (No. 7), Miami (No. 9), Virginia (No. 16) and Louisville (No. 22)
  • The ACC is one of only two conferences with four or more teams ranked in the top 20 of the AP Top 25 poll this week.
 
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), and Louisville over No. 2 Miami (Oct. 17).
  • The ACC has had four different teams defeat an AP Top 10 opponent (at the time of the game) this season. That is tied for the second-most among all FBS conferences. (Stats Perform)
 
Looking to Go Bowling
  • Georgia Tech became the first ACC team to become bowl eligible this season, picking up its sixth win with a 35-20 victory over Virginia Tech (Oct. 11) in Week 7.
  • Virginia became the second ACC team to earn bowl eligibility with its 22-20 win over Washington State (Oct. 18) in Week 8.
  • Five other ACC teams can become bowl eligible with a win in Week 9, as California, Louisville, Miami, Pitt, and SMU all enter this week with five wins.
 
Close Finishes Highlight ACC Play
  • ACC league play continues to not disappoint as the season heads into Week 9 this week.
  • 13 (13 of 29; 44.8%) conference games so far this season have been decided by one score (8 points or fewer).
  • In Week 5, there were two conference games in the ACC that went to overtime, marking the first time multiple ACC league games went past regulation in the same week since Week 8 of 2019. (Stats Perform)
  • 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 eight weeks of the season, ACC road teams have been outstanding in conference play, posting an 18-11 record in those conference contests.
 
ACC Football Fridays
  • ACC Football is set to dominate Fridays this fall, with a league-record 12 games scheduled for Fridays in 2025, the most of any conference.
  • 12 of the ACC’s 17 football programs will participate in at least one primetime Friday night game.
  • ACC Football Fridays continues in Week 9 with a first-time ACC matchup as Virginia Tech will host California at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Strongest Non-Conference Schedule
  • Through the first seven weeks of the season, ACC teams have played 18 non-conference games against peer Power 4 opponents and Notre Dame – the most of any conference – ACC – 18; Big 12 – 14; SEC – 14; Big Ten – 12.
  • The ACC has eight games remaining against peer P4 and Notre Dame this season, four 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.
  • According to Sport Source Analytics, the ACC has the strongest non-conference strength of schedule among the Power 4 conferences with its non-conference opponents winning percentage at 48.1 percent.

ACC is Again the Conference of Quarterbacks
  • Quarterbacks in the ACC have recorded a total of 25 300-yard passing games this season, the most of all FBS conferences.
  • 14 different quarterbacks in the ACC have recorded at least one 300+ yard passing game this season, the most of all FBS conferences.
  • 16 different quarterbacks in the ACC this season have thrown three or more touchdowns in a game, the most by any FBS conference.
  • Five quarterbacks in the ACC rank among the nation's passing leaders this season with an average of 255.0 or more passing yards per game – tied for the most of any conference.
  • Eight quarterbacks across eight different teams in the ACC have thrown 11 or more touchdown passes this season.
  • Five quarterbacks in the ACC rank in the top 26 in ESPN’s QBR on the season.
  • Four quarterbacks in the ACC rank in the top 25 of the NCAA in passing efficiency this season.
  • Six quarterbacks in the ACC were named to the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 25.
 
ACC is Loaded with Preeminent Players
  • 30 different players in the ACC have recorded at least one 100-yard receiving game this season.
  • 20 different players in the ACC have rushed for 100+ yards in a game this season.
  • Four different players in the ACC rank in the top 15 in the NCAA in yards per carry, the most of any conference.
  • The ACC has seven players who rank in the top 40 in the NCAA in total receptions on the season.
  • The ACC has five players who rank in the top 25 in the NCAA in receiving touchdowns this season.
  • The ACC has four players who rank in the top 10 in the NCAA in points per game on the season, the most of any conference.
  • The ACC has six players who rank in the top 30 in the NCAA in average yards per punt return the season.
  • The ACC has five player who rank in the top 35 in the NCAA in all-purpose yards per game on the season.
  • The ACC has seven players who have made 10 or more field goals this season.
  • California defensive back Hezekiah Masses leads the nation in passes defended (13), while also tied for third in all of FBS with four interceptions.
  • NC State’s Hollywood ranks sixth nationally in rushing yards (739) and ninth in rushing yards per game (105.6), both of which lead the ACC.
  • Georgia Tech’s Haynes King (18th; 93.3 ypg) and Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne (21st; 89.8 ypg) also rank in the top 25 nationally in rushing yards per game.
  • Syracuse’s Jack Stonehouse ranks third nationally in punt average (47.9).
  • Louisville’s Caullin Lacy is the only FBS player this season with two punt return touchdowns of at least 75 yards. It’s already tied for the second most any ACC player has had in a single season over the last 30 years, trailing only Maryland’s Steve Suter in 2002 (three).
 
ACC = Big Plays
  • The ACC has 10 teams that rank in the top 40 of the NCAA in passing offense, the most among all conferences.
  • This season, ACC teams have combined for 264 offensive “big plays” that have gone for at least 30 yards, the most of any conference.
  • ACC teams have combined to record 433 pass plays of 20 yards or more this season, the most of any conference.
  • Duke leads the nation with a total of 63 pass plays of 15+ yards this season, while Pitt is tied for 10th overall with 49 pass plays of 15 yards or more.
  • In the ACC this season, there have been 45 touchdown runs of at least 25 yards, the most of any FBS conference.
 
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.