ESPN names Top 5 ACC games for 2025 college football season

ESPN named the top five games for the ACC ahead of the 2025 college football season. Naturally, the in-conference games are usually the ones to watch, there is a non-conference tilt circled on the calendar.

These games are basically between the contenders in the conference. Sure, there could be surprises along the way, but these are listed from ESPN via projections and metrics.

Let’s dive into the ACC games to watch this coming season. We’ll start right in August with a season opener!

LSU at Clemson (August 30)

ESPN opted to go with this non-conference matchup because it actually might have the most at stake. LSU looks to get to the playoff under Brian Kelly for the first time while Dabo Swinney and crew want to establish, right off the bat, they’re thinking of a national championship this year.

But the ACC team gets the home field advantage. Seeing the players run down the hill and Dabo Swinney sprinting, full of energy for opening weekend? Yeah, we need this game ASAP. The good news? Less than two months away!

Miami at Florida State (October 4)

Miami opens ACC play with a road date in Tallahassee. Sure, the Hurricanes could very well be a road favorite, but this could be a bounce back year for the Seminoles.

Mario Cristobal and crew will have already played Notre Dame and Florida leading into this one. Maybe FSU can catch them at a bad time with a lot on the line in early October!

Louisville at Miami (October 17)

If Louisville has any chance to win, or at least get to, the ACC Championship, this has to be a must-win. Friday night in Coral Gables? Sounds fun!

Miller Moss and Carson Beck highlight the old quarterbacks in new places for these schools. Whoever wins here will certainly have the inside track towards the CFP.

Miami at SMU (November 1)

SMU, not Miami, played for the ACC Championship last year which is wild when you think about it. Could this game be an ACC title game preview? It’s possible.

The Hurricanes, who are on this list three times, have all of those games within a month of each other. So safe to say, it’s a critical time. 

Clemson at Louisville (November 14)

As far as metrics and odds go, this is Clemson’s closest game on paper within the ACC. Hitting the road late in the season against a fellow conference contender is no easy task.

Louisville had the upper hand last year and now the Cardinals can host the Tigers in 2025. Like the previous game mentioned, this could be a game that determines the polling in the conference for the ACC Championship.