Atlantic Coast

ACC Football: 5 most important non-conference games in 2017

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:23 p.m. ET

Fansided, Jerran Anderson/FanSided via Saturday Blitz

Apr 8, 2017; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Derwin James (3) during the Spring Game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

ACC football continues to improve overall. This season's out-of-conference schedule should surprise some teams around the nation.

The ACC isn't quite up to the level of the Southeastern Conference, but they're on their heels. The Clemson Tigers' last-second 35-31 victory in the National Championship Game over the Alabama Crimson Tide increases their profile, but they have a mountain to climb to get back there.

The Tigers will have to replace quarterback Deshaun Watson and receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott, who all departed for the NFL Draft. Strong recruiting classes in the past few seasons, however, give Clemson a bit of an edge that should carry them this season.

The Florida State Seminoles return as the early favorite to win the conference with quarterback Deondre Francois returning for his second year as starter.

Head coach Justin Fuente and the Virginia Tech Hokies will have to replace some weapons on offense, but the defense should still be one of the top units in 2017.

The Miami Hurricanes are another team looking to make a rise next season as well under head coach Mark Richt. A young, but experienced defense gives them an early edge to be the ACC Coastal Division winner next year.

Then enters head coach Dave Doeren and the North Carolina State Wolfpack. They could really use a victory to kick off their 2017 season. They kick off our list of top five out-of-conference games to watch in the ACC.

Dec 26, 2016; Shreveport, LA, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack tight end Jaylen Samuels (1) and North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Bryce Kennedy (56) celebrate after the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Independence Stadium. North Carolina State Wolfpack defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores 41-17. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

5. North Carolina State vs. South Carolina, Sept. 2

The North Carolina State Wolfpack already face a tough task in the Atlantic Division with Florida State, Clemson and Louisville. So starting the season facing an SEC opponent makes sense when it comes to competition level.

Doeren and the Wolfpack won three of their last four games in 2016, including a 41-17 Independence Bowl victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores.

The team returns nine starters on offense and eight on defense, which is second-most in the ACC. After going 7-6 last year, the Wolfpack have an opportunity to start off strong with a victory over the Gamecocks in Charlotte.

The Wolfpack last opened their season in 2012 against the Tennessee Volunteers, when they lost 35-21. Granted, the Gamecocks aren't a top team in the SEC, but NC State is in the middle of the pack in the ACC.

The Wolfpack and the Gamecocks haven't faced off since 2009 where they fell 7-3. Their last win over South Carolina was in 1999 (10-0).

Dec 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (center holding trophy) celebrates with teammates after a game against the West Virginia Mountaineersat Camping World Stadium. The Miami Hurricanes won 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

4. Miami vs. Notre Dame, Nov. 11

The Miami Hurricanes are almost "back" and their late-season matchup with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish should confirm as much. Although, they are on a three-game losing streak to Notre Dame.

The Hurricanes host the Fighting Irish which makes for a fun-filled Saturday. They have to replace quarterback Brad Kaaya, who departed to the NFL, but with running back Mark Walton in the backfield, they should be in good hands.

Walton ran for 1,117 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in 2016. This season, he could run for a whole lot more than 1,100 yards. They'll need to find a new signal-caller under center, but with seven starters returning on offense, things should run smoothly.

The Miami defense returns eight starters with a strong stable of linebackers returning. Shaquille Quarterman, the team's second-leading tackler in 2016 (84 total tackles), is one name to watch as the Hurricanes' leader on defense.

The Hurricanes haven't gotten a victory over Notre Dame since 1989. After falling to them 30-27 last season, Miami should be a much improved team on both sides of the ball this coming November.

The game could have College Football Playoff implications as well, making this game a must-watch barring another catastrophic start by the Fighting Irish.

Apr 8, 2017; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney during the first half of the spring game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

3. Clemson vs. Auburn, Sept. 9

The defending National Champion Clemson Tigers host the Auburn Tigers next season in Week 2. Clemson got a 19-13 road victory last season behind some stout defensive play. This time around there are some changes at quarterback on both sides.

Clemson will be without a lot of weapons on offense, including a quarterback transition. They still return five starters, led by wide receiver Deon Cain. Recruiting should fill the void with top 20 recruiting classes the past few seasons.

The defense returns seven starters with a few holes in the linebacking core and secondary. Seeing as the Tigers defense has been one of best in the ACC, it's hard to see the defense losing a step. Especially with defensive end Christian Wilkins playing on the edge.

Auburn has a tough rushing attack returning, which averaged 271.3 rushing yards per game in 2016. With both of their running backs returning, Auburn should serve as a good challenge for Clemson.

Quarterbacks Kelly Bryant, Hunter Johnson and Zerrick Cooper will all challenge for the starting spot this fall. Whoever comes out on top has an opportunity to pick up where Deshaun Watson before leaving for the NFL Draft.

Dec 29, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Justin Fuente waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Virginia Tech defeated Arkansas 35-24. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

2. Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia, Sept. 3

The Virginia Tech Hokies open the season on the national stage in Landover, Maryland at Redskins Stadium against the West Virginia Mountaineers. As the ACC is on the rise, the Big 12 has found itself in a bit of an identity crisis.

It wasn't long ago the Hokies and Mountaineers met regularly to faceoff for the Black Diamond Trophy. However, the teams haven't met since the 2005 season. The Hokies won the last meeting 34-17.

The bad blood should continue to boil over when the two teams meet to open their 2017 campaigns. Both teams will be going through offensive overhauls so this may be a close game in the beginning.

The Hokies defense should make a lot of noise as they return seven starters. Led by linebacker Mook Reynolds, this could be a special season in the ACC for this Virginia Tech defense.

Reynolds should be prime for a breakout season after recording 9.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. There's also linebacker Tremaine Edmunds who was second on the team with 16.5 tackles for loss in 2016.

All in all, the Hokies season opener should be a good one against the Mountaineers. They'll need to replace their quarterback, but with three to choose from, they should be okay on offense.

Apr 8, 2017; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Derwin James (3) during the Spring Game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

1. Alabama vs. Florida State, Sept. 2

The Florida State Seminoles opened the 2016 season against the Ole Miss Rebels. In quarterback Deondre Francois' first start, the Seminoles won 45-34. Francois threw for 419 passing and two touchdowns in the game.

In 2017, their meeting with the Alabama Crimson Tide in Atlanta raises the bar a lot higher. There are a lot of storylines within this game for the Seminoles too.

The return of Derwin James from his left knee injury. The debut of linebacker Adonis Thomas, a former player at Alabama. How will true freshman Cam Akers replace Dalvin Cook?

Go figure the pressure is once again on Florida State to compete against top-notch SEC competition. Their season opener serves as a measuring stick as the Seminoles look to take back over the reigns in the ACC Atlantic Division.

The Seminoles defense will have a huge anchor in the middle after locking up top recruit defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, a five-star defensive tackle out of Texas.

They also boast an early enrollee who could breakout in 2017 in defensive end Joshua Kaindoh. Kaindoh is a 6-foot-6 and 250-pound prospect who made waves at the widely popular IMG Academy in his senior season.

With so much talent on the field on defense, the Seminoles could be in the College Football Playoff by season's end. They just need to get through Alabama first.