The ACC’s 2025 football schedules have sparked debate over which teams have the best chances of success. Analyzing the schedules reveals that the Virginia Cavaliers and Wake Forest Demon Deacons appear to have the easiest journeys, while the Syracuse Orange has a significantly challenging journey.
2025 ACC Football Schedule
| Boston College –
Aug. 30 Fordham Sept. 6 at Michigan State Sept. 13 at Stanford Sept. 20 OPEN Sept. 27 California Oct. 4 at Pitt Oct. 11 Clemson Oct. 18 UConn Oct. 25 at Louisville Nov. 1 Notre Dame Nov. 8 SMU Nov. 15 Georgia Tech Nov. 22 OPEN Nov. 29 at Syracuse |
Florida State –
Aug. 30 Alabama Sept. 6 East Texas A&M Sept. 13 OPEN Sept. 20 Kent State Sept. 26 at Virginia Oct. 4 Miami Oct. 11 Pitt Oct. 18 at Stanford Oct. 25 OPEN Nov. 1 Wake Forest Nov. 8 at Clemson Nov. 15 Virginia Tech Nov. 21 at NC State Nov. 29 at Florida
|
North Carolina –
Sept. 1 TCU Sept. 6 at Charlotte Sept. 13 Richmond Sept. 20 at UCF Sept. 27 OPEN Oct. 4 Clemson Oct. 11 OPEN Oct. 17 at California Oct. 25 Virginia Oct. 31 at Syracuse Nov. 8 Stanford Nov. 15 at Wake Forest Nov. 22 Duke Nov. 29 at NC State |
| California –
Aug. 30 at Oregon State Sept. 6 Texas Southern Sept. 13 Minnesota Sept. 20 at San Diego State Sept. 27 at Boston College Oct. 4 Duke Oct. 11 OPEN Oct. 17 North Carolina Oct. 24 at Virginia Tech Nov. 1 Virginia Nov. 8 at Louisville Nov. 15 OPEN Nov. 22 at Stanford Nov. 29 SMU |
Georgia Tech –
Aug. 29 at Colorado Sept. 6 Gardner-Webb Sept. 13 Clemson Sept. 20 Temple Sept. 27 at Wake Forest Oct. 4 OPEN Oct. 11 Virginia Tech Oct. 18 at Duke Oct. 25 Syracuse Nov. 1 at NC State Nov. 8 OPEN Nov. 15 at Boston College Nov. 22 Pitt Nov. 28 Georgia |
NC State –
Aug. 28 East Carolina Sept. 6 Virginia Sept. 11 at Wake Forest Sept. 20 at Duke Sept. 27 Virginia Tech Oct. 4 Campbell Oct. 11 at Notre Dame Oct. 18 OPEN Oct. 25 at Pitt Nov. 1 Georgia Tech Nov. 8 OPEN Nov. 15 at Miami Nov. 21 Florida State Nov. 29 North Carolina |
| Clemson –
Aug. 30 LSU Sept. 6 Troy Sept. 13 at Georgia Tech Sept. 20 Syracuse Sept. 27 OPEN Oct. 4 at North Carolina Oct. 11 at Boston College Oct. 18 SMU Oct. 25 OPEN Nov. 1 Duke Nov. 8 Florida State Nov. 14 at Louisville Nov. 22 Furman Nov. 29 at South Carolina |
LOUISVILLE –
Aug. 30 Eastern Kentucky Sept. 5 James Madison Sept. 13 OPEN Sept. 20 Bowling Green Sept. 27 at Pitt Oct. 4 Virginia Oct. 11 OPEN Oct. 17 at Miami Oct. 25 Boston College Nov. 1 at Virginia Tech Nov. 8 California Nov. 14 Clemson Nov. 22 at SMU Nov. 29 Kentucky |
PITT –
Aug. 30 Duquesne Sept. 6 Central Michigan Sept. 13 at West Virginia Sept. 20 OPEN Sept. 27 Louisville Oct. 4 Boston College Oct. 11 at Florida State Oct. 18 at Syracuse Oct. 25 NC State Nov. 1 at Stanford Nov. 8 OPEN Nov. 15 Notre Dame Nov. 22 at Georgia Tech Nov. 29 Miami |
| Duke –
Aug. 30 Elon Sept. 6 Illinois Sept. 13 at Tulane Sept. 20 NC State Sept. 27 at Syracuse Oct. 4 at California Oct. 11 OPEN Oct. 18 Georgia Tech Oct. 25 OPEN Nov. 1 at Clemson Nov. 8 at UConn Nov. 15 Virginia Nov. 22 at North Carolina Nov. 29 Wake Forest |
MIAMI –
Aug. 31 Notre Dame Sept. 6 Bethune-Cookman Sept. 13 South Florida Sept. 20 Florida Sept. 27 OPEN Oct. 4 at Florida State Oct. 11 OPEN Oct. 17 Louisville Oct. 25 Stanford Nov. 1 at SMU Nov. 8 Syracuse Nov. 15 NC State Nov. 22 at Virginia Tech Nov. 29 at Pitt |
SMU –
Aug. 30 East Texas A&M Sept. 6 Baylor Sept. 13 at Missouri State Sept. 20 at TCU Sept. 27 OPEN Oct. 4 Syracuse Oct. 11 Stanford Oct. 18 at Clemson Oct. 25 at Wake Forest Nov. 1 Miami Nov. 8 at Boston College Nov. 15 OPEN Nov. 22 Louisville Nov. 29 at California |
Virginia Cavaliers: Ready for an Upsurge
The Virginia Cavaliers, led by Head Coach Tony Elliott, are looking to halt a three-season losing run. Their 2025 schedule appears to support this drive since they avoid top ACC rivals such as Clemson, SMU, Miami, and Syracuse.
Furthermore, three of their non-conference games are at home against opponents who are not generally strong. Notably, their game at NC State is classified as a non-conference competition.
The Cavaliers’ tougher games are on the road against Louisville and Duke, but they also face teams that finished lower in the 2024 rankings, including California, Wake Forest, Stanford, and Florida State.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons: A Favorable Path Ahead
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons’ 2025 schedule is somewhat easier, with no games against Miami or Clemson. Their most formidable opponent, SMU, is scheduled to visit Winston-Salem.
The non-conference schedule includes a cross-country trip to Oregon State, but the majority of games are played in North Carolina or nearby Virginia, which reduces travel soreness. This blueprint positions Wake Forest well for a successful season.
Syracuse Orange: Facing a Challenging Schedule
In contrast, the Syracuse Orange are preparing for a tough 2025 season. Their schedule includes high-caliber opponents such as Tennessee, Clemson, SMU, Miami, and Notre Dame, with several of these games played on the road. The departure of key players adds to the problem, making bowl eligibility a steady climb.
Also Read: Must-See Matchups: Ranking the Best Games on the 2025 ACC Football Schedule
The 2025 ACC football schedules vary in complexity across the conference. Teams like Virginia and Wake Forest have favorable schedules that could lead to good seasons, whereas Syracuse faces a notably difficult slate of opponents.
These dynamics will undoubtedly impact the ACC’s competitive landscape in the coming season.
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