Kicking off with our national look, College Football Network is proud to introduce the first of it’s kind ACC Strength of Schedule metric for the 2024 college football season. Analyzing every facet of play, CFN’s Strength of Schedule takes a look at the difficulties — or relative ease — that will face each team across the country this coming season.
2024 ACC Strength of Schedule
Before we get to the rankings, we need to take a look at how we drummed up these metrics.
From our cross-conference strength of schedule:
CFN’s exclusive strength of schedule metric was crafted carefully using as many resources as possible ahead of the 2024 season. Using a bevy of metrics such as returning production, roster projections, coaching staff, incoming talent, home-field advantage, and other factors, the CFN SOS analyzes which teams have the most difficult and easiest schedules this season.
CFN’s strength of schedule metric included each team’s transfer portal classes, valued quarterbacks returning to their school, and continuation among the coaching staffs into the ranking.
These factors all awarded schedule difficulty more heavily based on merit and projection, as opposed to looking back at results from last season, though those results were factored in moderately. They’ve also been updated following all the reports from spring practice, final transfer portal class numbers, and the most up-to-date roster and depth chart files we have on hand.
MORE: Strength of Schedule for All 134 Teams
Here’s how the ACC teams stacked up ahead of the 2024 season:
1) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Toughest Game: @ Georgia
Easiest Game: vs. VMI
S.O.S. Score: 19.67
National Rank: 2rd
MORE: Georgia Tech’s Full 2024 Schedule
2) Florida State Seminoles
Toughest Game: @ Notre Dame
Easiest Game: vs. Charleston Southern
S.O.S. Score: 17.98
National Rank: 12th
MORE: Florida State’s Full 2024 Schedule
3) Stanford Cardinal
Toughest Game: @ Clemson
Easiest Game: vs. Cal Poly
S.O.S. Score: 16.85
National Rank: 22nd
MORE: Stanford’s Full 2024 Schedule
4) Boston College Eagles
Toughest Game: @ Florida State
Easiest Game: vs. Duquesne
S.O.S. Score: 16.81
National Rank: 23rd
MORE: Boston College’s Full 2024 Schedule
5) Clemson Tigers
Toughest Game: @ Florida State
Easiest Game: vs. The Citadel
S.O.S. Score: 16.50
National Rank: 28th
MORE: Clemson’s Full 2024 Schedule
6) Virginia Cavaliers
Toughest Game: @ Clemson
Easiest Game: vs. Richmond
S.O.S. Score: 16.42
National Rank: 30th
MORE: Virginia’s Full 2024 Schedule
7) Louisville Cardinals
Toughest Game: @ Clemson
Easiest Game: vs. Austin Peay
S.O.S. Score: 16.02
National Rank: 31st
MORE: Louisville’s Full 2024 Schedule
8) Miami Hurricanes
Toughest Game: vs. Florida State
Easiest Game: vs. Florida A&M
S.O.S. Score: 15.58
National Rank: T38th
MORE: Miami’s Full 2024 Schedule
9) Pittsburgh Panthers
Toughest Game: vs. Clemson
Easiest Game: vs. Youngstown State
S.O.S. Score: 15.31
National Rank: 43rd
MORE: Pittsburgh’s Full 2024 Schedule
10) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Toughest Game: vs. Ole Miss
Easiest Game: vs. North Carolina A&T
S.O.S. Score: 14.92
National Rank: 47th
MORE: Wake Forest’s Full 2024 Schedule
11) California Golden Bears
Toughest Game: @ Florida State
Easiest Game: vs. UC Davis
S.O.S. Score: 14.79
National Rank: 49th
MORE: Cal’s Full 2024 Schedule
12) Duke Blue Devils
Toughest Game: vs. Florida State
Easiest Game: vs. Elon
S.O.S. Score: 14.77
National Rank: 50th
MORE: Duke’s Full 2024 Schedule
13) Virginia Tech Hokies
Toughest Game: vs. Clemson
Easiest Game: vs. ODU
S.O.S. Score: 14.29
National Rank: T55th
MORE: Virginia Tech’s Full 2024 Schedule
14) NC State Wolfpack
Toughest Game: @ Clemson
Easiest Game: vs. Western Carolina
S.O.S. Score: 13.69
National Rank: 61st
MORE: NC State’s Full 2024 Schedule
15) North Carolina Tar Heels
Toughest Game: @ Florida State
Easiest Game: vs. NC Central
S.O.S. Score: 13.31
National Rank: 65th
MORE: North Carolina’s Full 2024 Schedule
16) SMU Mustangs
Toughest Game: vs. Florida State
Easiest Game: vs. Houston Christian
S.O.S. Score: 13.27
National Rank: 66th
MORE: SMU’s Full 2024 Schedule
17) Syracuse Orange
Toughest Game: @ NC State
Easiest Game: vs. Holy Cross
S.O.S. Score: 13.15
National Rank: 68th
MORE: Syracuse’s Full 2024 Schedule
KEEP READING: Top 10 Easiest College Football Schedules in 2024
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