ACC Announces Exciting Friday Night Football Slate for 2025

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference has finalized its lineup of Friday night football games for the 2025 season, revealing two new matchups during an announcement with ESPN on Wednesday. The conference previously scheduled eight games for Friday nights, bringing the total to ten.

The newly added games feature the North Carolina Tar Heels, who will play at California on October 17 and at Syracuse on October 31. This marks the debut of head coach Bill Belichick for the Tar Heels on a Friday night, generating significant anticipation among fans.

“It’s exciting to see our team represented on national television during prime time,” Belichick said. “The opportunity to compete in a high-stakes environment is invaluable for our players.”

Alongside North Carolina’s games, the complete Friday night schedule includes other key matchups. On August 29, Kennesaw State will visit Wake Forest, followed by Colgate at Syracuse on September 12 and Florida State at Virginia on September 26. The much-anticipated rivalry game—Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate—between Georgia and Georgia Tech will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on November 28, right before Thanksgiving.

The Tar Heels will play multiple Friday night games, enhancing their visibility with crucial matchups. The games will be featured across various ESPN networks, with specific channel assignments and kickoff times announced as the season approaches.

“These Friday night games are a fantastic opportunity for fan engagement,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. “We are thrilled to partner with ESPN to showcase our programs in front of a national audience.”

Additionally, the 2025 season aims to build on the success of the previous year, where Clemson secured the ACC Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Tigers enter the upcoming season with ambitions to defend their conference title and reach the expanded playoff format of 2025.

As the new schedule takes shape, anticipation continues to grow among fans and analysts alike regarding team performances and playoff implications. The ACC football season kicks off in Week Zero on August 23 with Stanford facing Hawaii, culminating with the championship game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on December 6.