ACC Football News & Notes: The Final Month is Here.

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What started back in August with summer camps across the league, has now reached the final month of play. Yes, we have reached the month of November, and just a few games left before championship Saturday takes place in Charlotte, NC. The Florida State Seminoles still hold down the top spot in the ACC standings. For the ninth straight week, they have been ranked in the top 5 of the AP Poll. One of two teams that are in this week’s poll with Louisville at #15 being the other. Four teams have made themselves bowl-eligible with another eight still in the hunt. It will be a busy and exciting month of college football. Here is some of the league’s news for the week.

With the addition of three schools in 2024, the league had to make some adjustments to its future football schedule model. The new model will have no divisions. There will now be 17 schools in the ACC. The number of conference matchups will increase from 56 to 68 games. The top two teams based on winning percentage would then compete for the conference championship. This new format will still allow for eight league games per season. All 17 teams will play each other twice over the next seven seasons.

The ACC has posted a winning percentage of 50.63 versus Power-5 opponents this season. That number also includes non-conference games as well. It is tied for the second-highest percentage among all Power-5 conferences. The ACC is just one of two leagues that have a winning record combined this season. They also have 11 wins over ranked opponents this season. That is the second-most among all FBS conferences. Since Labor Day weekend, the ACC has won 40 games vs Power-5 schools. That too is tied for the second most among all Power-5 conferences.

The league has 21 wins in one TD games. That is the most among all Power-5 conferences. The ACC also owns 12 wins in games decided by four points or less, which is tied for the most in Power-5 leagues. 43.8% of games have been decided by one score or less (8 points or less). That is the second highest among all Power-5 conferences.

Teams are making statements with their plays this season. Louisville and Miami are both ranked in the Top 25 in both total offense and total defense. The Cardinals are #25 in offense at 447 yards a game. On defense, they are 15th at 303.4 yards a game. The Hurricanes are 19th in offense at 456.1 yards and on defense, they are 24th at 320.5 yards. Miami is 20th in the nation in scoring offense (35.4 points) and 27th in scoring defense (20 points a game).

Florida State is one of eight teams ranked in the top 20 in both scoring offense and defense. On the offensive side, they are 5th with 41.5 points a game. On defense, they are 20th at 18.2 points). In the Red Zone, the Seminoles are not too shabby. Their offense is 11th at 93.9% while on defense they are 16th at 73.1%. The league has five schools ranked in the top 25 in total offense. UNC 3rd at 509.4 yards, Georgia Tech 18th at 459.2 yards, and Miami at 19th at 456.1. Florida State is 22nd at 453 yards, and Louisville at 25 447 yards. On defense, the league also has five teams ranked. Clemson #6 at 266.9 yards, Louisville at #15 303.4 yards, Virginia Tech #21 316 yards, Duke #23 320.2 yards, Miami #24 at 321.5 yards. it’s the second most of any FBS league.

The Seminoles will take a 14-game winning streak into their road game with Pittsburgh this Saturday. The streak is the third longest in FBS, next on the list is Washington. Their offense has been consistent through the streak scoring at least 30 points in all 14 games. They have also won nine straight ACC games, which is the second-most in league history. They will take a 5-game road win streak with them to Pitt which is sixth in the nation. The win streak at home stands at seven, which is eighth-best in FBS. Louisville is the other team with a win streak. They have won a league-best nine at home. That is fifth-best in FBS. This weekend, they will look to move into double figures at home vs Virginia Tech.

That will give you some idea of what this season has been like in the ACC. Next week we will be back with more.