Atlanta’s Georgia Dome has been a house of horrors for ACC football teams in the last several years, especially when opening seasons with clubs from the neighboring SEC.
The ACC avoided one of those matchups a year ago, as Georgia took on Boise State, but will kick off this coming season with two games on the opening weekend at the Georgia Dome: N.C. State vs. Tennessee on Friday, Aug. 31; and Clemson-Auburn the next night. Just how big are these games for a league that has a whole bunch to prove?
To best understand the importance of these contests, it’s wise to revisit the league’s three previous such matchups.
In 2008, Alabama took apart a Clemson team that entered with a great deal of optimism. Bama won, 34-10, outgaining the Tigers 419 to 188 in total yards – 239-0 in rushing yards – and it had 25 first downs to Clemson’s 11.
The ugly defeat marked the beginning of the end for Tommy Bowden at Clemson.
The following year, Virginia Tech was throttled by the Crimson Tide 34-24 in a game that was not nearly as close as the final score suggests. In fact, Alabama outgained the Hokies 498-155 in total yards, including an advantage of 268-64 on the ground.
North Carolina nearly got the ACC into the win column in 2010, but fell 30-24 to LSU. UNC had 123 more total yards and a 20-11 edge in first downs, but an 87-yard punt return by Patrick Peterson proved to be the difference.
The games this season offer the ACC a chance at improving its record in these Chick fil-A Classic season openers.
N.C. State (8-5 overall, 4-4 ACC last year) should be better than rebuilding Tennessee (5-7, 1-7 SEC). The Wolfpack has one of the top secondaries in the nation, led by cornerback David Amerson, who led the nation with 13 interceptions last fall. NCSU also has a seasoned quarterback with an NFL future in 6-foot-6 Mike Glennon, a solid defensive front, a potentially excellent offensive line, and quality options in the offensive backfield.
The Wolfpack has been a notorious slow starter under Tom O’Brien, so that should be a concern for Pack fans. But if State can open with a win on Friday, Aug. 31, it could springboard the Pack to a terrific season. It would also be a boon to the ACC.
More eyes will be on the Clemson-Auburn game the next night, and this one should also go in the ACC’s favor. The War Eagles (8-5, 4-4) will offer quite a challenge, but Clemson (10-4, 6-2) could be awesome on offense with quarterback Tajh Boyd, wide receivers Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins, and tailback Andre Ellington.
Defense was the issue that ruined Clemson’s first Orange Bowl in 30 years last January, as the Tigers allowed a BCS bowl-record 70 points in a blowout loss to West Virginia. Clemson must show improvement on that side of the ball and notch a victory to be taken seriously again on the national scene.
And the ACC must win both games if it’s going to begin the process of improving its reputation. O’Brien’s and Dabo Swinney’s teams will be favored, which places even greater importance on winning.
Imagine if Tennessee and Auburn finish in the middle or near the bottom of their respective divisions in the SEC and State and Clemson make a push for the Atlantic Division title in the ACC. The ACC won’t be able to escape the scrutiny of losing these games, and a conference trying to overcome a reputation of mediocrity built in the 2000s, will have to climb that much higher.
