The start of the college football season is a little over six weeks away and the anticipation of the first season with a play-off format is growing. Some teams will have a slightly easier road to the national championship game than others, let’s take a look at who will be in the firing line the most often in the ACC.
1. Florida State
Notable games: Oklahoma State, Clemson, Notre Dame, @Louisville, @Miami, Florida.
The reigning national champions will be made to work if they are to win back-to-back championships. While the toughest games on the schedule all luckily come at home, there are a number of stumbling blocks that could trip Jimbo Fisher and his men. Ok State and division rivals the Clemson Tigers are week one and three so the ‘Noles will need to come out the blocks fast. Notre Dame falls in the middle of the schedule while arch enemies the Florida Gators will be hoping to make amends for last year’s loss when they travel to Tallahassee to round out the season.
2. Clemson
Notable games: @Georgia, @Florida State, Louisville, South Carolina
Big away days at Georgia and Florida State within the first three weeks means the new-look Tigers’ offense have no time for a warm-up game. Gone are the days of Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd lighting up the scoreboard. New starting quarterback Cole Stoudt will need to find his feet early to ensure the season is not over before it has begun. The schedule peters out after that until the host Louisville on October 11th and South Carolina at the end of November.
3. Boston College
Notable games: USC, Clemson, Louisville, @Florida State
Boston College travels to Massachusetts to open their campaign before a run of four home games including USC and Colorado State follows. Clemson visit in mid-October before a tough stretch sees the Eagles travel to Virginia Tech, host Louisville before paying a visit to the national champions in consecutive games. Boston College are also facing a lot of change on the offensive side of the ball and the new faces are certain to be in for a gruelling year.
4. Louisville
Notable games: Miami, @Clemson, Florida State, @Notre Dame
The newest members to the ACC find themselves with a relatively light out of conference schedule, but they will meet the hottest members during in-conference games. They will get straight into it with a reformed Miami on September 1st before a string of likely wins follow. The season run-in is far from straightforward, however, with Clemson, Florida State and Notre Dame all falling within the last six games.
5. Virginia
Notable games: UCLA, Louisville, BYU, @Florida State, Miami
Virginia needs a good season or it is clear-out time in Charlottesville. Mike London is on his last legs and must get through an unappetizing schedule if he is to see out his fifth season in charge. A home tie with UCLA will open up proceedings before matches against Louisville and BYU will be in the books before the end of September. A tricky double-header against North Carolina and Duke appears in mid-October before Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech close the season out.
Follow Richard on Twitter @Richard_Gatenby