With the Large Ten and SEC taking an excellent larger piece of the faculty soccer pie, rumors of the ACC’s potential demise surfaced in 2024.
Rumors be damned, the ACC put two groups within the inaugural 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff final season, with the committee selecting SMU over Alabama and Clemson additionally making the sphere.
This season, Clemson seems to be the favourite within the convention, however Miami, Louisville and SMU needs to be viable challengers for the ACC title and a spot within the CFP.
Listed here are 5 convention video games that can play a serious position in figuring out who represents the ACC within the Faculty Soccer Playoff:
Miami at Florida State | Oct. 4
By the point Miami opens ACC play in Tallahassee, it may already be in a precarious place. The ‘Canes may have hosted Notre Dame (Aug. 31) and Florida (Sept. 20) as a part of a tough nonconference schedule. Miami’s highway recreation with its largest rival will not be straightforward both.
Florida State ought to are available in 3-1 — its opening recreation is in opposition to Alabama, a positive loss — and with the chance to safe a signature win in opposition to Miami. It is a measuring stick recreation for HC Mike Norvell’s crew after final season’s 2-10 debacle.
Louisville at Miami | Oct. 17
This can be a main Friday night time matchup at Miami and Louisville’s first main take a look at. The ‘Canes gained a thriller final season in Louisville 52-45 — one in every of 4 losses by a mixed 24 factors final season for the Cardinals, who in all probability should win this recreation to make the playoff.
New Louisville quarterback Miller Moss was 4-5 as USC’s starter final season, together with a 1-3 report in opposition to groups that completed with a greater report. He should outduel Miami QB Carson Beck, who transferred from Georgia after final season.
The excellent news for Louisville is that after 5 straight losses on the highway to the Hurricanes. the Cardinals gained 38-31 of their final recreation at Miami in 2023.
SMU at Clemson | Oct. 18
This a rematch of final season’s ACC title recreation, gained by Clemson 34-31. For SMU, the again half of the schedule is hard with video games in opposition to Clemson, vs. Miami (Nov. 1) and vs. Louisville (Nov. 22).
Earlier than Oct. 18, the Mustangs will host Baylor (Sept. 6) and journey to TCU (Sept. 20). A loss in both of these video games would almost certainly require SMU to beat two of the three aforementioned ACC groups to qualify for the CFP.
Quarterback play can be featured as SMU’s dual-threat Kevin Jennings takes on Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, a possible first-round NFL Draft choose. The 2 mixed 566 yards passing (304 for Jennings) and 7 TD passes (4 by Klubnik) in final season’s ACC Championship Recreation.
Miami at SMU | Nov. 1
It is laborious to think about both crew is undefeated by this level, and each nonetheless should face Louisville within the ensuing weeks. The winner of this recreation may have an enormous benefit for the CFP.
Miami returns 5 starters to its protection underneath fourth-year Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal, whose unit on that aspect of the ball has usually been problematic. Miami cannot afford a poor defensive effort in opposition to a QB as scary as Jennings.
On offense, Beck has been inclined to mad interceptions (12 in 2024). SMU’s protection, in the meantime, ranked 14th in interceptions (16) final season.
Clemson at Louisville | Nov. 14
That is the ultimate convention recreation for Clemson, which misplaced at residence to Louisville final season 33-21 and finishes the common season in opposition to two nonconference opponents. So this is a chance for the Tigers to finish the ACC slate with an exclamation level.
For Louisville, it is the beginning of a tough three-game stretch in opposition to Clemson, SMU (Nov. 22) and rival Kentucky (Nov. 29).
The Tigers and Cardinals construct rosters otherwise. Clemson HC Dabo Swinney is dedicated to recruiting HS expertise, whereas Louisville’s Jeff Brohm brings in dozens of transfers. By Nov. 14, Louisville’s roster ought to have jelled for this to be a implausible recreation.
