Hey All, It's time for our look at the schedules of the Power Five conferences. In this edition will focus on the ACC, Notre Dame and the Big Ten. We still miss you, Jim Murray.
The ACC
The makeup of the ACC remains unchanged for 2016
ACC Atlantic: Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina State, Syracue, and Wake Forest.
ACC Coastal: Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.
Top five non conference games in the ACC
9/3- Clemson at Auburn: This one is for Clemson to face a tough road challenge and maybe beat one team from the state of Alabama. A win for Clemson solidifies the Tigers as a contender for the 2016 national title.
9/5- Florida State v. Ole Miss: This game will take place at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. A win gives Florida State a sweet victory over a school that has been a thorn in Alabama's side. Make no mistake that this game and the the Clemson-Auburn game can make the ACC look like equals to the SEC, not just their neighbors.
9/10- Virginia Tech v. Tennessee: NASCAR meets college football as this game will be played at the Bristol Motor Speedway. The venue is also just about halfway between the two schools. This game is an early referendum on just how far justin Fuente's Hokies have come since his takeover of the program in the offseason.
9/10- Virginia at Oregon: Autzen Stadium isn't an easy place to play, but new Uva HC Bronco Mendenhall will defiitely find out just how far his team has come in a short time. It also gives the ACC a look at one of the Pac 12's upper echelon teams.
11/17- Louisville at Houston: This is a battle of former C-USA foes. Houston turned heads last year under HC Tom Herman will easily give Louisville all they can handle. the season. It's a basic trap game for Louisville as they finish ACC play the week prior against Wake Forest and play their rivalry game with Kentucky the week after.
Top five conference games in the ACC
10/1: Louisville at Clemson: Louisville will have already faced Florida State by the time this game rolls around, so two scenarios are in play for the Cardinals. Scenario one is that Louisville has upset Florida State and can take a stranglehold on the Atlantic Divison with another big win. Scenario two is that the Cardinals have lost to FSU and need win to retain some hope of winning the division. For Clemson, a win over Louisville sets up their showdown with FSU later in the season.
10/8: Florida State at Miami: This game is Mark Richt's first shot at the 'Noles as the Miami HC. I'm sure this game has been circled on the Miami calendar for awhile.
10/8: Virginia Tech at North Carolina: The Hokies are fighting for respect this season and North Carolina is fighting for the Coastal Division title. This is also a class sandwich game for the Tar Heels. The week before UNC plays at FSU, then plays at Miami the week after this game. Upset Alert for the Tar Heels.
10/29: Clemson at Florida State: Barring a Louisville uprising this year, this is the game for all the marbles in the Atlantic Division.
11/11: Boston College at Florida State: BC has played FSU tough in recent years and every year BC has pulled an upset or two in the past few seasons.
ACC Scheduling Observations...
...That natural feel; Georgia Tech is one of only two teams to play all their games on natural grass this season. 16 FBS teams play their entire schedule on the fake stuff.
...Tough Triple; NC State has three game stretch where they host Notre Dame, then play at Clemson and Louisville.
...A fence around the state; Miami hosts Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, and Florida State this year.
...A pair of '71s; North Carolina will face Georgia for the first time since 1971, and will also travel to Illinois for the first time since 1971.
...It really counts; Pittsburgh and Clemson will face each other for the first time as as ACC foes this season. In their only other meeting, Jackie Sherrill's Panther's whipped Clemson, 34-3 in the 1977 Gator Bowl. Pitt QB Matt Cavanaugh threw for 387 yards and four TDs.
...The Tri-State Area; Georgia Tech's last six games revolve all around the states of Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The Yellow Jackets play Georgia Southern, Duke, North Carolina, Va Tech, Virginia, and Georgia.
...Virginia hasn't won a road opener since they won at Indiana in 2011. This year doesn't look for breaking the losing streak. The Wahoo's first road game is at Oregon.
Notre Dame (An associate member of the ACC in football)
Notre Dame has the friends with benefits package in the FBS. The play five ACC games a year and have access to all the league's bowl tie-ins. Desperate much, ACC?
ND scheduling Observations...
...Get that Texas thought off your minds; Yes, it is a big game for ND as they open up at Texas on 9/4. However, the Irish own the series with a 9-2 record v. the Longhorns who haven't won in this series since the 1970 Cotton Bowl.
...6-5 you pick'em; Notre Dame has six wins over Pac 12 schools in the last five years. Colorado has just five.
...A thing for neutral tones; Notre Dame is 16-1 in neutral site games since 2000. The Irish play three neutral site game this year. The play Syracuse in New Jersey, Navy in Jacksonville, and Army in San Antonio.
...Just a rumor; There is no truth to the rumor that both ND and USC both scheduled their bye week for 10/22 so they could attend the Jimmy Buffett concert at Irvine Meadows.
..100%; That's the chance that ND HC Brian Kelly will chew out his QB on the sideline in every game.
...Hitting the hot beds; ND will play a game in three of the biggest talent rich states in the nation as they play in Florida, Texas, and California.
...A Big Ten date; The Fighting Irish have played at least one Big Ten team in all but one of the last 100 years.
The Big Ten
The makeup of the Big Ten remains unchanged for 2016.
Big Ten East: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Rutgers
Big Ten West: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin.
Top five non conference games in the Big Ten
9/3- LSU v. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field: Even though it is officially a neutral site game, the Bayou Bengals may have committed an SEC sin by playing a non-conference game that isn't in their own backyard. This could be a long game for the Badger faithful as their DC from 2015, Dave Aranda is now the DC at LSU. I think it's safe to say that he'll provide some inside knowledge of the Badgers to his new boss, Les Miles.
9/10- Penn State at Pittsburgh: For almost 100 years these two played in one of the classic rivalry games of college football,, The game was one of the first casualties of conference realignment. with the two teams not facing each other since 2000. In addition to rivalry bragging rights, this game will also see where the Big Ten stands in relation to the ACC.
9/17- Theee Ohio State at Oklahoma: This is just the third time these two teams are getting together in their illustrious history. The series stands tied at a win a piece with the Buckeyes picking up their win at OU back in 1983. Earle Bruce's Scarlet and Gray topped Barry Switzer's Crimson and Cream, 24-14. Both teams should come into this one at 2-0 and with the whole country watching. Will Urabn Meyer outwit Bob Stoops? Who knows, but is should be a fun game.
9/17- Oregon at Nebraska: this game should be called Riley's Civil War. The old Beaver HC will face a familiar foe in Oregon. This Pac 12- Big Ten showdown will have many folks watching and wondering if Nebraska is better than last year and can they handle Oregon's speed? I don't think Nebraska can, because we all know that in the Big Ten speed is just a controlled substance.
9/17- Michigan State at Notre Dame: The Big Ten, not just MSU needs a win here. An MSU win makes the Big Ten look strong and puts ND's playoff hopes on the brink of collapse early. This game is also the Big Ten's only shot at toppling the Irish this season.
Top Five conference games in the Big Ten
9/24- Nebraska at Northwestern: Yeah, it looks like this one doesn't belong on the list. Maybe it doesn't, but these facts put it on the list. This is the Big Ten opener for both schools. Northwestern will be well rested as they will be playing their fourth home game in a row to start the season. The Cornhuskers will be coming off their clash with Oregon. Nebraska is just 3-2 v. Northwestern since joining the Big Ten and four of those games have been decided by three points or less.
10/22- Wisconsin at Iowa: This has become the de facto Big Ten West title game as of late with the Badgers still smarting from their 10-6 defeat last year. The Hawkeyes forced four turnovers and held for downs at their own 16-yard line with :36 left to play to walk out of Camp Randall Stadium with the huge road win. Revenge will be on Badger minds, but this game comes at the end of a tough four game run and they just may not have any gas left in the tank for the Hawkeyes.
11/12- Michigan at Iowa: This game is big in that it very well could be an advance look at the Big Ten title game. Enough said.
10/29- Michigan State at Michigan: This game is for who will have the best chance to dethrone Ohio State in the Big Ten East. The winner will most likely control their own destiny in the division while the loser will need help to advance to the Big Ten title game.
11/26- Michigan at Ohio State: If Jim Harbaugh's hubris is validated on the field this season, this could be a really, really good game. If the Michigan program rises as a whole this rivalry could be back in the Bo v. Woody level of importance that both schools have wanted for so long. It may also be safe to say that Urban Meyer can't wait to get Harbaugh back in the Horseshoe for a beating. Can't be any love lost between these two guys, because there wasn't any between them to start.
Big Ten Scheduling Observations...
...Note to Iowa; You're supposed to schedule a weak FCS team to beat early in the year, not the five-time defending FCS national champion North Dakota State Bison. Facepalm.
...Five the easy way; Michigan plays five straight home games to start the season. They don't hit the road until 10/8 when they travel to Rutgers.
...Not many air miles; Throwing neutral site games to the wayside, the Big Ten will play only five non conference road games this year. Maryland claims two of those five games with trips to Florida International on 9/9 and Central Florida on 9/17. Rutgers makes the longest trip as they open up at Washington on 9/3.
...Rodent War Pac 12 style; Minnesota hosts Oregon State on 9/1 to start the season. The Gophers are 2-1 lifetime v. the Beavers and all games in this series have beeen played at Minnesota. Last time they met was back in 1981, QB Mike Hohensee torched the Beavers for five TDs in a 42-12 Golden Gopher win.
...Not a good six pack; After ducking Thee OSU, UM, And MSU last year , Wisconsin will face all three plus their big three division foes, Iowa, Nebraska, and Northwestern in brutal stretch of six games in seven weeks with a bye thrown in. They will face UM, MSU, Iowa and Northwestern all on the road.
...Made to make a bowl game schedule; Minnesota won't face Theee OSU, UM, or MSU this year.
...You know you're not good when; When you're projected to finish dead last in the Big Ten West behind an Illinois team that is a salvage operation coming into this season. Way to go, Purdue.
...Not a business trip; There's no truth to the rumor that the Duke-Northwestern game this year will feature a symposium at halftime for both squads to discuss financial and legal internships in the greater Chicago area.
...Still making introductions; When Maryland visits Nebraska on 11/19, it will be the first meeting ever between the two conference foes.
Until next time folks, remember that no games are ever won on paper.
-The Commissioner
