2012 ACC Schedule Release: Notes and Analysis

The ACC finally released its 2012 football schedule on Monday afternoon, as Florida State and Georgia Tech were able to complete their non-conference schedules.

It will likely be the league's final season in its current 12-team structure, as Pittsburgh and Syracuse are expected to join the ACC in 2013. The ACC Championship Game will be held in Charlotte for the third straight season on December 1^st.

Here are some highlights of the release.

General Notes

*The first conference game will take place on September 1^st, when Miami (FL) travels to Boston College.

*Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech will open the season with a primetime showdown on Labor Day in Blacksburg.

*Virginia Tech will face both Atlantic Division favorites, travelling to Clemson on October 20^th and hosting Florida State on November 8^th

*New North Carolina coach Larry Fedora will make his ACC debut on September 8^th at Wake Forest. The Tar Heels open the week before against Elon in Chapel Hill.

*Virginia Tech will play consecutive Thursday night games, on November 1^st at Miami (FL) and November 8^th at home against Florida State.

*Clemson and Florida State will meet in September for the second consecutive season, on September 22^nd in Tallahassee.

*Florida State does not have a conference home game in the month of November. Their ACC home finale is October 27^th against Duke.

*In addition to Virginia Tech’s two Thursday night games, the league will have two other nationally-televised Thursday night contests. Clemson visits Wake Forest on October 25^th, and North Carolina travels to Virginia on November 15^th.

*Boston College is the only ACC team to play three consecutive road games, starting October with trips to Army, Florida State, and Georgia Tech.

*Miami (FL) will not play a true road game between a September 22^nd trip to Georgia Tech and a November 10^th game at Virginia.

*Three ACC teams will play Notre Dame in 2012: Miami (FL) (October 6^th in Chicago), Boston College (November 10^th in Chestnut Hill), and Wake Forest (November 17^th in South Bend).

*Conference games on the final weekend of the season include Miami (FL) at Duke, Maryland at North Carolina, Virginia at Virginia Tech, and Boston College at N.C. State. 

Top 10 Games to Watch

1. Clemson at Florida State, September 22^nd

2. Florida State at Virginia Tech, November 8^th

3. Virginia Tech at Clemson, October 20^th

4. Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech, September 3^rd

5. Florida State at Miami (FL), October 20^th

6. Virginia Tech at Miami (FL), November 1^st

7. Florida State at N.C. State, October 6^th

8. Georgia Tech at Clemson, October 6^th

9. N.C. State at Clemson, November 17^th

10. Virginia Tech at North Carolina, October 6^th

Toughest Three-Game Stretches

Boston College: Notre Dame (November 10^th), Virginia Tech (November 17^th), at N.C. State (November 24^th)

Clemson: at Florida State (September 22^nd), at Boston College (September 29^th), Georgia Tech (October 6^th)

Florida State: Clemson (September 22^nd), at South Florida (September 29^th), at N.C. State (October 6^th)

Maryland: at Clemson (November 10^th), Florida State (November 17^th), at North Carolina (November 24^th)

N.C. State: Virginia (November 3^rd), Wake Forest (November 10^th), at Clemson (November 17^th) 

Wake Forest: at N.C. State (November 10^th), at Notre Dame (November 17^th), Vanderbilt (November 24^th) 

Duke: at Virginia Tech (October 13^th), North Carolina (October 20^th), at Florida State (November 27^th)

Georgia Tech: at North Carolina (November 10^th), Duke (November 17^th), at Georgia (November 24^th)

Miami (FL): Florida State (October 20^th), Virginia Tech (November 1^st), at Virginia (November 10^th)

North Carolina: N.C. State (October 27^th), Georgia Tech (November 10^th), at Virginia (November 15^th)

Virginia: Penn State (November 8^th), at Georgia Tech (November 15^th), at TCU (September 22^nd) 

Virginia Tech: at Clemson (October 20^th), at Miami (FL) (November 1^st), Florida State (November 8^th)

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