ACC power of schedule rankings 2025: Navigable highway for Invoice Belichick, steep climb forward at Florida State

1 One 12 months after their schedule was christened because the league’s most favorable in these very rankings, Syracuse now finds itself on the opposite finish of the convention rotation. Fortunately Fran Brown cashed in on final 12 months’s slate with a 10-win season as a result of the crew might nonetheless be near the identical caliber and nonetheless discover a step down by way of the ultimate report. The Orange not solely have the hardest convention schedule draw with highway video games at Clemson, SMU and Miami but in addition face Tennessee and Notre Dame away from house in nonconference play. 2 Florida State faces a schedule that might embrace as many as 4 preseason high 25 opponents — relying on the place voters rank rival Florida. Both approach, the Seminoles will certainly tackle three groups with reliable Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes in Alabama, Miami and Clemson. However given Florida State’s projected win complete, this system is not beginning the season amongst that group of contenders. Mike Norvell is relying on offseason modifications to appropriate final 12 months’s struggles, however with a schedule this powerful, a return to title rivalry should be a 12 months away. 3 Annual rivalries with each Georgia and Clemson have left Georgia Tech with one of many hardest schedules within the ACC because the league expanded to 2 divisions in 2005. However this 12 months is definitely a reprieve contemplating the Yellow Jackets keep away from Notre Dame, Miami, SMU and Louisville. It speaks to the annual problem for Brent Key that the “simpler” years nonetheless have him with a top-five hardest schedule within the ACC, however that is the way in which it goes for the Rambling Wreck. 4 Drawing BYU and Notre Dame as nonconference opponents provides to a league slate that features highway journeys to each SMU and Miami. Making issues worse, these video games in opposition to ACC contenders come within the midst of a 5 week back-and-forth with highway video games in Dallas, Miami and Chapel Hill sandwiching round house dates with Florida State and Pitt. There’s merely no probability for Stanford to get settled till about 10 video games into the season, at which level the Cardinal’s destiny might already be sealed. 5 Notre Dame cycles onto the schedule as soon as once more — this time in the identical 12 months as a highway journey to Michigan State. That provides much more weight to a slate that already contains Clemson, SMU and Louisville in convention play. Probably the most fascinating wrinkle might be whether or not Boston Faculty can discover some home-field magic. The Eagles play 5 house video games in a six-week stretch, with three guests — Clemson, Notre Dame and SMU — carrying Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes into the season. Boston Faculty is probably not a playoff contender itself, nevertheless it might nonetheless have a significant say within the CFP race. 6 Clemson cannot play itself, nevertheless it’s scheduled to play lots of the different high groups within the ACC together with a season opener in opposition to LSU and its rivalry week finale at South Carolina . The Tigers have an ACC title recreation rematch with SMU in Week 8, a revenge alternative in opposition to Louisville in Week 12 and never many opponents which are projected to be close to the underside of the league. Given Clemson’s big-picture expectations, a tricky schedule is welcomed, nevertheless it’s notable there aren’t many possibilities for the Tigers to catch their breath with a surefire win. 7 The Hurricanes sometimes do a great job of placing a minimum of one high-profile nonconference recreation on the schedule. This 12 months they’ve two with the second leg of a home-and-home in opposition to Florida and a large season opener in opposition to Notre Dame in Week 1. Each of these video games are at house, which takes a number of the enamel away from the problem, however these opponents increase Miami’s schedule to a decent power score — particularly if you add in video games in opposition to each Louisville and SMU in convention play. 8 With no Clemson or Miami on the schedule final season, SMU entered its first 12 months within the ACC with a chance to hit the bottom working. The Mustangs did simply that, going 8-0 in convention play and making the ACC Championship Sport in addition to the CFP. Now issues are a bit tougher, with each Clemson and Miami rotating onto the schedule to pair with Louisville for a tricky convention draw. The nonconference slate might be tough as nicely, with SMU going through in-state foes Baylor and TCU earlier than the tip September. 9 A manageable begin to the 2025 schedule actually opens up in Week 8 as Louisville can have seven consecutive video games to shut the season with no off weeks. That run contains highway dates in opposition to Miami and SMU in addition to high-profile house video games in opposition to Clemson and Kentucky . The nonconference portion of the schedule provides some alternative to stack wins (Eastern Kentucky , JMU, Bowling Green) however that is balanced out by one of many hardest convention attracts within the league. 10 Notre Dame cycles again onto the schedule for Pitt as one of many nice rivalries of the twentieth Century is renewed for the 73rd time. That, after all, is a more durable opponent than Pitt may in any other case face within the nonconference portion of the schedule, particularly with a highway recreation version of the Yard Brawl in Week 3. Nonetheless, Pitt catches a little bit of a break with no Clemson or SMU, and will get some well-timed off weeks upfront of taking part in each Louisville and Notre Dame at house. 11 A pressure-packed season for Brent Pry and the Hokies opens with back-to-back dates in opposition to SEC foes, first taking part in South Carolina in Atlanta in Week 1 then internet hosting Vanderbilt again in Blacksburg in Week 2. However then the schedule lightens up a bit, and the Hokies can have an opportunity to actually construct the season up earlier than a number of the hardest video games in ACC play. “Enter Sandman” might be the X-factor in Virginia Tech’s ACC report in 2025, as a result of there is no Clemson or SMU on the schedule and each of the more durable challenges (Louisville and SMU) might be making the journey to Blacksburg. 12 There are two daunting highway journeys on NC State’s schedule — first going through Notre Dame in South Bend because the seventh recreation in a row with out an off week after which touring to play Miami in Laborious Rock Stadium in November. However the Wolfpack catch some good breaks that might assist their ultimate report. They do not play Clemson, SMU or Louisville in convention play and get a number of the more durable convention opponents (Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Florida State) in Carter-Finley Stadium. 13 9 of Duke’s 11 FBS opponents had been bowl groups final season, however outdoors of Clemson the Blue Devils aren’t precisely punching up in opposition to the competitors. Duke doesn’t play Miami, Louisville or SMU this season and will get its hardest nonconference opponent (Illinois) in Durham. There are some schedule quirks that might be difficult, just like the cross-country journey with highway video games at Syracuse and Cal in back-to-back weeks, however Duke ought to be ok with its potential to compete and win in opposition to most of its schedule. 14 This is perhaps a bit low when journey points are considered, as there are a pair spots on the schedule the place the Bears are crossing a number of time zones with out an off week. There is a San Diego-to-Boston-to-Berkley run within the first half of the season, then a ping-ponging tour from Berkley-to-Blacksburg-to-Berkley-to-Louisville beginning in mid-October. When it comes to opponents there is no Clemson or Miami, and Minnesota is the hardest nonconference draw, however navigating the season will not be “straightforward” by any stretch. 15 The primary 12 months of the Invoice Belichick period brings loads of consideration and pleasure from the skin. There’s additionally a chance to hit the bottom working with a positive convention draw. The Tar Heels get every week off earlier than internet hosting Clemson and one other bye after to recuperate. They then keep away from arguably subsequent three most difficult groups within the league (Miami, SMU, Louisville). The margins is perhaps skinny for a roster that is been completely reloaded with transfers and true freshmen, however North Carolina will not look out-classed when it will get off the bus on most Saturdays. 16 This can be a sturdy Yr 1 schedule for Jake Dickert because it gives some nice alternatives for growth at each the start and finish of the season. Kennesaw State and Western Carolina are the primary two opponents out of the gate, after which the Demon Deacons will host Delaware in November in between rivalry video games in opposition to North Carolina and Duke. There is no Clemson, Miami or Louisville on the slate, and the SMU recreation is at house after a bye. If this crew can win as a favourite, steal a pair coin flips and pull an upset it might be a giant bounce-back season for this system. 17 A busy offseason aligns with one of many extra favorable schedules to arrange what might be coach Tony Elliot’s long-awaited breakthrough with this system. Virginia brings in 31 gamers the portal (it solely took 22 complete over the earlier two offseasons) and face a schedule that lacks Clemson, Miami and SMU. The hardest nonconference recreation is definitely in opposition to an ACC peer in NC State, so if Virginia can maintain function a favourite it would want just one or two upsets to be bowl eligible for the primary time since 2021.