The 5 biggest ACC non-conference games of 2023

The ACC should be one of the more interesting conference races in 2023. Clemson and Florida State will be duking it out for the crown, while teams like North Carolina will be trying to build on highly successful campaigns from last year.

In the out-of-conference market, the ACC is pretty rich as well this year. Multiple big-time games against marquee opponents, rivals, and former players will alter the course of the college football season. Here are the biggest ones to pay attention to.

5. Wake Forest at Notre Dame - 11/18/23

Because they play a full ACC slate and are basically an ACC school, this is the only time Notre Dame will appear on this list. The only reason we're letting it slide is the Sam Hartman transfer. Hartman played 4 seasons for the Demon Deacons and holds the program record in career completions, attempts, and total touchdowns. Late in the year, Wake could disrupt whatever moment Hartman and the Irish have rolling.

4. Pitt at West Virginia - 9/16/23

Neither of these teams has any realistic postseason aspirations but that won't dull the excitement for another rendition of the Backyard Brawl. After not playing for over a decade, we finally got to see the two schools battle it out in 2022. An incredible 38-31 win for Pitt at home reaffirmed what we all already know: this rivalry needs to be played every year.

3. Texas A&M at Miami - 9/9/23

A week after losing to Appalachian State 17-14, Texas A&M took out their frustrations on a Miami team that had big goals for 2022. The 17-9 loss to the Aggies was the start of a stretch that saw Miami lose 5 out of its next 7, with their only two wins coming against the Virginia schools. The Hurricanes and Mario Christobal need a win over the Aggies or things could get ugly quick.

2. Clemson at South Carolina - 11/25/23

Had it not been for some unbelievably comical turnovers against the Gamecocks in 2022, Clemson would likely have made the CFP last season. As it was, Clemson lost their first game to South Carolina in 7 years, leaving them out of the final 4. In 2023, they'll once again face a South Carolina team led by Spencer Rattler, but this time they'll be in Williams-Brice, adding to the difficulty.

1. Florida State vs LSU - 9/3/23

At the very least, this will be a battle between top-15 teams to start the year. On a Sunday night in Orlando, both teams will get a shot to vault themselves squarely in the middle of the College Football Playoff race. LSU is one of the favorites to win the SEC. Florida State is the favorite to push Clemson for the ACC crown. If FSU can grab a win here, it opens up the door - albeit a very slender door - for the ACC to get two teams into the CFP. In the micro, a showdown between two of the best quarterbacks in the game, Jayden Daniels and Jordan Travis, is worth the cost of admission.