What's new with the 2023 and 2024 NC State football schedules?
The scheduling landscape of the Atlantic Coast Conference is now completely different than it was last week thanks to the league’s decision to switch to a 3-5-5 scheduling system starting in 2023. Coastal chaos is no more and, now that divisions are completely broken down, NC State will be facing off against league foes that they only sparingly saw under the old model.
As of now, this decision has not impacted NC State’s out of conference schedule, setting up for some absolutely electric matchups in 2023 and 2024. Under the new rules, winning percentage within the conference is paramount. At the end of each regular season, the top two teams in that category will match up for ACC championship in Charlotte.
Here is what we know about the next couple years of Wolfpack football matchups.
NC State’s 2023 Schedule
Before the schedule change—
ACC home opponents: Clemson, Louisville, Syracuse and North Carolina
ACC away opponents: Boston College, Florida State, Wake Forest and Virginia
Out of conference matchups: Notre Dame, Cincinnati, VMI and at UConn
After the schedule change—
ACC home opponents: Clemson, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina
ACC away opponents: Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Out of conference matchups: Notre Dame, Cincinnati, VMI, at UConn
What changed?
NC State will no longer host Syracuse, instead welcoming Miami for a showdown at Carter-Finley Stadium. On the road, the Wolfpack swapped out trips to Boston College and Florida State with matchups against Duke and Virginia Tech. That will certainly cut down on the team’s travel miles!
Analysis
Right off the bat, it is hard not to be blown away by the Wolfpack’s home schedule this year. Out of conference tilts against Notre Dame and Cincinnati set up for formidable mid-western tests early in the year before starting a stacked ACC schedule.
The Fighting Irish and Clemson will almost assuredly be ranked when they face NC State, with Louisville, Miami, UNC and Wake Forest all holding top-25 potential as well. With many key pieces of a senior-laden 2022 team expected to depart after the season, NC State fans will find out a lot about the Wolfpack very quickly next fall.
NC State’s 2024 Schedule
Before the schedule change—
ACC home opponents: Boston College, Florida State, Wake Forest and Pittsburgh
ACC away opponents: Clemson, Louisville, Syracuse and North Carolina
Out of conference matchups: BYU, Louisiana Tech, at USF and Western Carolina
After the schedule change
ACC home opponents: Duke, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Wake Forest
ACC away opponents: Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh
Out of conference matchups: BYU, Louisiana Tech, at USF and Western Carolina
What changed?
The 2024 home slate has an almost completely different look to it. The ACC completely removed Boston College from the schedule, while the Wolfpack will now travel to Florida State and Pittsburgh instead of hosting the two teams. A road date with Louisville was swapped for a home game with Georgia Tech, and Syracuse will travel to Raleigh for its matchup against NC State.
Analysis
After hosting many of the league’s top teams 2023, the 2024 schedule is filled with challenging tests on the road. Pittsburgh, Clemson and Florida State are the last three programs to win ACC championships, and the Wolfpack will travel to each school that fall. While Florida State has not won more than seven games since 2016, Tallahassee is always a difficult road trip.
NC State also hosts Wake Forest this year for the final scheduled matchup between two teams until at least 2027. Mix in an intriguing out-of-conference showdown with BYU, and this is another exciting slate of games for NC State.
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