CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Week 5 of the 2025 ACC Football season features a packed Saturday, September 27, slate with six games, including five conference matchups and one key non-conference rivalry airing across ESPN, ESPN2, ACC Network, and The CW. Today's slate follows the exciting double-overtime thriller on Friday night between No. 8 Florida State and Virginia.
#16 Georgia Tech at Wake Forest | Noon ET
Series: Georgia Tech leads series, 24-8-0
Last meeting: Georgia Tech, 30-16 (2023)
TV: ESPN
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 81 | SiriusXM 139 | SiriusXM 194
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 81 | SiriusXM 956
Georgia Tech holds a 24-8 all-time series lead over Wake Forest and enters Saturday’s matchup on a four-game winning streak against the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest's last victory over the Yellow Jackets came in the 2006 ACC Championship Game, while their most recent home win in Winston-Salem was back in 1999.
Georgia Tech is off to a strong start in 2025, boasting a 4-0 record for the first time since 2014. Quarterback Haynes King has been a key contributor, rushing for a touchdown in seven consecutive regular-season games dating back to October 12, 2024. He currently ranks tied for second in the ACC with five rushing touchdowns this season and is one of only two Power Four quarterbacks with multiple games featuring both 100+ rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Wake Forest redshirt freshman Chris Barnes has emerged as a dynamic playmaker, ranking second in the ACC with an impressive 20.7 yards per reception. He has totaled 12 catches for 248 yards and also serves as the team’s primary return specialist, ranking second nationally in kick return average at 42.8 yards.
The Demon Deacons are aiming for their highest-ranked home win since 2006, when they defeated No. 9 Boston College en route to an ACC title and a berth in the Orange Bowl.
Louisville at Pitt | Noon ET
Series: Pitt leads series, 11-10-0
Last meeting: Louisville, 37-9 (2024)
TV: ESPN2
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 145 | SiriusXM 380
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 145 | SiriusXM 970
Louisville holds a narrow 11–10 lead in the all-time series with Pitt, winning two of the last three matchups, including the 2024 meeting, though the Panthers won seven of eight between 2008 and 2020.
The Cardinals enter this week’s contest with one of the ACC’s top defenses, allowing just 43 first downs (second in the ACC, 12th nationally) and leading the league in red zone defense (60.0% opponent scoring rate, sixth in FBS). Louisville also boasts the ACC’s best pass defense, giving up just 114.7 yards per game and holding opposing quarterbacks to a 96.21 passer efficiency rating—both top-12 marks nationally. On offense, Caullin Lacy leads the ACC and ranks third nationally with 170.67 all-purpose yards per game, contributing as both a receiver and return specialist.
Pitt counters with a disruptive defense of its own, leading the nation in sacks (4.00 per game) and ranking second in tackles for loss (10.0 per game), with Francis Brewu and Kyle Louis each averaging 0.67 sacks per game. The Panthers also rank third in the ACC in rushing defense (81.0 ypg) and are one of only three ACC teams yet to lose a fumble this season.
Duke at Syracuse | Noon ET
Series: Duke leads series, 4-1-0
Last meeting: Duke, 38-24 (2020)
TV: ACC Network
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 119 | SiriusXM 193 | SiriusXM 371
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 371 | SiriusXM 955
Both Duke and Syracuse enter this week riding momentum from ACC-opening wins.
The Blue Devils have shown resilience, overcoming 13- and 14-point deficits in their last two conference victories. They've also rushed for over 100 yards in consecutive games for the first time since September 2024, led by Anderson Castle, who earned ACC Running Back of the Week honors after posting 92 yards and three touchdowns—becoming the first Duke player with 3+ touchdowns in a game since 2022.
Syracuse turns to LSU transfer Rickie Collins at quarterback following Steve Angeli’s season-ending Achilles injury. Collins will make his first collegiate start for an Orange offense that boasts the longest active FBS streak of 17 straight games with 250+ passing yards. Johntay Cook highlighted the passing attack with a career-high 113 receiving yards against Clemson, while Yasin Willin added 94 rushing yards on the ground in the win.
California at Boston College | 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: Boston College leads series, 1-0-0
Last meeting: Boston College, 21-15 (1986)
TV: ACC Network
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 119 | SiriusXM 193 | SiriusXM 371
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 371 | SiriusXM 955
Saturday marks just the second-ever meeting between Boston College and California, and their first as ACC opponents following Cal’s addition to the conference. The Eagles won the only previous matchup in 1986, 21-15 in Chestnut Hill.
Cal enters at 3-1 in non-conference play and now begins an eight-game stretch against ACC opponents. The Golden Bears are one of just six FBS teams with two defenders—Cade Uluave (34 tackles) and Luke Ferrelli (33)—recording 33 or more tackles thus far this season. Freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has also impressed, joining just two other FBS freshmen with 200+ passing yards in four games this season.
Boston College comes off an open week, aiming to bounce back from a conference-opening loss to Stanford on September 13. The Eagles lead the nation in passing offense (393.7 yards per game) and rank 25th in total offense (467.0 ypg), while also topping the ACC with 13 red-zone touchdowns. Transfer QB Dylan Lonergan has been a standout, leading the ACC in completions (30.0), passing yards (330.3), and total offense (325.7 ypg)—all top-10 marks nationally.
Virginia Tech at NC State | 7 p.m. ET
Series: Virginia Tech leads series, 28-20-4
Last meeting: NC State, 35-28 (2023)
TV: The CW
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 119 | SiriusXM 193 | SiriusXM 371
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 371 | SiriusXM 955
Virginia Tech leads the all-time series against NC State 28-20-4, but the Wolfpack have won the last two meetings—one in Raleigh (2022) and the other in Blacksburg (2023). Since Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2004, the teams have met just eight times, with NC State winning three.
The Hokies are coming off their first win of the season, a dominant performance under interim head coach Philip Montgomery. Their defense held Wofford to minus-1 rushing yard on 23 carries, while quarterback Kyron Drones delivered a historic outing, completing 27 passes at an 84.4% rate with two passing and two rushing touchdowns—a feat matched only by LSU’s Jayden Daniels over the past seven seasons, per Stats Perform.
NC State, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from a 45-33 loss at Duke. Running back Hollywood Smothers has recorded three consecutive 100-yard games, the first Wolfpack player to do so since Nyheim Hines in 2017. Quarterback CJ Bailey has been exceptionally efficient in the red zone, producing 22 touchdowns on 73 career touches inside the 20 without a single turnover.
San José State at Stanford | 7:30 p.m. ET
Series: Stanford leads series, 52-15-1
Last meeting: San José State, 34-31 (2024)
TV: ACC Network
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 139 | SiriusXM 194
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 956
Stanford will host San Jose State in this year’s Bill Walsh Legacy Game, holding a commanding 52-15-1 lead in the all-time series. The Cardinal aim to start 2-0 at home for the first time since 2018, which also marks their last bowl season (Sun Bowl).
Defensively, Stanford is one of just 11 FBS teams with multiple defensive touchdowns and one of six with both a fumble and interception return for a score. In last week’s win at Virginia, CJ Williams and Bryce Farrell each topped 100 receiving yards—the first Stanford duo to do so since the 2024 season finale, also against San Jose State.
The Spartans enter with momentum following a 31-28 win over Idaho, eyeing their second straight victory over Stanford after last season’s 34–31 triumph. A win Saturday would give SJSU back-to-back wins over the Cardinal for the first time since a three-game streak from 1998–2000—all on the road—and their first win at Stanford Stadium since September 8, 2000.