ESPN to Televise ACC, College Football Playoff Games at Movie Theaters in 2023-24

Get your popcorn ready, college football fans.

ESPN announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Theater Sports Network to televise ACC college football games and the College Football Playoffs at movie theaters in 2023-24.

The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl, CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game and College Football Playoff National Championship will all be shown at movie theaters as part of the agreement.

Theater Sports Network President and COO Scott Daw said in the announcement:

"We believe movie theaters are the next great frontier for live sporting events, and we are elated with this unprecedented agreement with ESPN. We look forward to bringing these games to ACC football fans. We believe that theaters have the ability to generate excitement around live sporting events. These events will replicate the feel of a football stadium experience as fans gather and fill theaters to watch the games on the big screen. As we move forward, we hope to add games from additional college football conferences as well as other live sporting events."

The pact is a great way for fans to come together and cheer on their favorite teams in a watch party-like setting on the big screen.

According to Theater Sports Network's website, the Week 1 ACC games shown at theaters will include matchups between Virginia and Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina, LSU and Florida State and Clemson and Duke.

ESPN will show approximately 75 games in theaters during the 2023-24 season, according to The Athletic's David Ubben.

Some of the most exciting ACC teams to watch this season will be the Florida State Seminoles, Clemson Tigers and North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Seminoles enter 2023 with CFP aspirations after posting their first winning season since 2017 in 2022 under head coach Mike Norvell, going 10-3, including a win over Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl.

FSU returns many of its 2022 starters in an offense and defense that ranked highly last season, including quarterback Jordan Travis, running back Trey Benson, wide receiver Johnny Wilson and defensive end Jared Verse.

Clemson, meanwhile, is looking to repeat as ACC champions with Cade Klubnik taking over as the starting quarterback after D.J. Uiagalelei's departure for Oregon State.

The Tigers also boast one of the best running back tandems in the conference with Will Shipley and Phil Mafah in the backfield.

North Carolina is one of the best teams in the ACC, mainly because of quarterback Drake Maye, who is expected to make a big leap in 2023 as he eyes the 2024 NFL draft. The Tar Heels will have one of the best passing attacks in the conference, which should help propel them in their title quest.