RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia will be the center of the college football universe for five days this fall as two of the nation’s most high profile college football teams take on Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Atlantic Coast Conference released its 2015 college football schedule Thursday.
One of the conference’s toughest early-season match ups occurs on Labor Day, September 7, when defending national champion Ohio State takes on Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
“The Hokies were the only team to defeat the Buckeyes last fall, claiming a 35-21 decision in Columbus, Ohio. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN,” ACC football spokesman Mike Finn said. “The game will mark the 11th appearance in 12 years by an ACC team on Labor Day Monday Night since the telecasts began in 2004. It will also mark Virginia Tech’s third appearance on Labor Day Monday.”
College football fans in the Commonwealth won’t have to wait long for another big-name college football school to arrive in Virginia. Five days after the Ohio State-Virginia Tech game, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame travels to Charlottesville for a football game against the University of Virginia.
Virginia kicks off its season the week before, September 5, at the Rose Bowl against UCLA.
“ACC teams will play more games against teams that are ranked in ESPN’s Too Early Top 25 rankings for 2015 (12) than any of the other Top Five Conferences. The ACC’s total is also more than double the number of games played by the next closest Power Five league,” Finn said. “ACC teams will also play 24 games against non-conference opponents that played in bowl games in 2014. That total is the second-highest total of any Power Five Conference.”
“This year’s ACC Football schedule once again showcases that collectively our league is arguably playing the toughest nonconference schedule in the country,” ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. “In addition to the nonconference games, we have a tremendously competitive league schedule which provides our teams and fans with great games each week of the season.”
