It took bit longer than I intended to really take a look at the ACC schedule for 2018, but I’ve taken a closer look and here are the five things I like most about the schedule.
1) Virginia Tech vs Florida State (September 3, 2018)
The Labor Day game just about always features an ACC team, and is always a highly rated game. This year it’s ACC vs ACC which is even better for the conference. Virginia Tech and Florida State are two of the bigger football brands in the conference and it’s a great showcase game for both teams and the ACC.
2) Open Dates
Every ACC team has their open date in week 6, week 7, or week 8. This is very fair and equitable to all the teams. Remember we’ve seen BYE weeks as early as Week 4 in years past. Also being the middle of the season is the proper time for a break. The ACC did this one right.
3) Clemson vs Florida State (October 27, 2018)
Florida State hit a bit of a speed bump last year, but more often than not Clemson vs Florida State is going to have playoff implications. With stakes so high, this should be a late season game. Hopefully the ACC is on it’s way to making late October early November the permanent date for this game.
4) Miami vs LSU (September 2, 2018)
Labor Day is ACC vs ACC and Sunday night is another ACC team playing in an exclusive TV window. So basically ABC’s national TV prime time Sunday and Monday broadcasts will be ACC football front and center. ACC fans often complain about poor TV time slots – they can’t on opening weekend.
5) Virginia Tech vs Notre Dame (October 6, 2018)
Notre Dame is headed to Lane Stadium on October 6. This one has prime time clash written all over it. Notre Dame isn’t the brand it used to be, but Blacksburg will be rocking for this one. Say what you will about the ACC’s scheduling agreement with Notre Dame, but the Irish’s visit is nearly 3 times more expensive than any other Virginia Tech home game according to StubHub.
