Big 12 & ACC Preview – Week Three
Throughout the college football season, members of the Florida Citrus Sports Team Selection Committee are out on the road to meet with fans of our partner schools to spread the word about the Russell Athletic Bowl and newly renovated Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium.
Here are some of the games where we will be in attendance this weekend:
#11 Clemson (2-0, 0-0 ACC) at Louisville (0-2, 0-0 ACC) – Thursday, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
The Tigers are looking for their fifth straight Thursday night victory in their first conference game of the season and their first-ever game in Louisville. The Cardinals look to bounce back after just five days since their loss against Houston.
#9 Florida State (2-0, 0-0 ACC) at Boston College (2-0, 0-0 ACC) – Friday, 8:00 p.m. on ESPN
The Eagles have beaten the Seminoles only once at home since joining the ACC in 2005. Florida State is looking to extend their current road winning streak to 13 games.
#14 Georgia Tech (2-0, 0-0 ACC) at #8 Notre Dame (2-0) – 3:30 p.m. on NBC
One of the greatest rivalries in college football renews Saturday in their first meeting since the Yellow Jackets won 33-3 in South Bend in 2007. The Fighting Irish hold a 27-6-1 advantage all-time, in the fourth meeting in the series with both teams being ranked in the Top 25. Georgia Tech is one of only four remaining teams without a “three-and-out” possession on offense.
#23 Northwestern (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Duke (2-0, 0-0 ACC) – 12:30 p.m. on ESPN 3
The Wildcats have won six of the last seven meetings with the third best defense in the nation (189 yds/game) and have yet to allow an offensive touchdown. The Blue Devils have scored in each quarter so far this season and are averaging 592.5 yds/gm in total offense.
Illinois (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at North Carolina (1-1, 0-0 ACC) – 12:00 p.m. on ESPN2
The Tar Heels face their first Big 10 Ten opponent in ten years in their first against the Illini since 1987.
Virginia Tech (1-1, 0-0 ACC) at Purdue (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten) – 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU
The Hokies head to the Hoosier state for their first-ever game in the state of Indiana. It’s a welcoming trip, as the Boilermakers have not beaten an ACC team since 2003.
California (2-0, 0-0 Pac 12) at Texas (1-1, 0-0 Big 12) – 7:30 p.m. on FOX
It’s been 45 years since the Longhorns and Golden Bears have faced off in the regular season. They last met in the 2011 Holiday Bowl with Texas holding a 5-0 advantage in the all-time series, including two shutouts. So far this season, the Longhorns are averaging 570.5 yds/game in total offense.
Pittsburgh (2-0, 0-0 ACC) at Iowa (2-0, 0-0 Big 10) – 8:00 p.m. on Big Ten Network
A win for the Panthers would give them their fourth 3-0 start since 2000. It’s a great reason for them to be optimistic because they’ve received bowl invitations each of those seasons. The Hawkeyes have rallied from double-digit deficits to win the last two meetings between the teams in 2001 and 2014.
Nebraska (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten) at Miami (2-0, 0-0 ACC) – 3:30 p.m. on ABC or ESPN2.
Five of the last six meetings between these two teams took place in the postseason, but the streak was snapped last year with Nebraska’s 41-31 regular season win in Lincoln. Miami QB Brad Kaaya threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns in that game, but was intercepted twice. Through two games this season – both in the South Florida region – Kaaya has yet to throw a pick.
Here are the rest of the ACC and Big 12 games:
SMU (1-1, 0-0 AAC) heads to #3 TCU (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) at 8:00 p.m. on FSN. The Horned Frogs look to extend the second longest winning streak in the nation (10 games) against a Mustangs squad that they defeated 56-0 last year.
At noon, #16 Oklahoma (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) hosts Tulsa (2-0, 0-0 AAC) on FOX Sports 1. The Hurricane have the tenth best passing team in FBS (372.5 yds/gm) but face a stingy Sooners passing defense that is ranked 6th in the nation (106.5 yds/gm).
Up the road in Stillwater, FOX Sports 1 continues the OK football doubleheader as UTSA (0-2, 0-0 CUSA) and #25 Oklahoma State (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) kickoff at 3:30 p.m. The Cowboys rank in the top 25 nationally in passing offense and in rushing defense, and in their first two games have allowed just one punt return – for a 3-yard loss.
Wake Forest (1-1, 0-1 ACC) and Army (0-2) kickoff at NOON on the CBS Sports Network. At 3:00 p.m., Louisiana Tech (1-1, 0-1 CUSA) squares off against Kansas State (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) on FSN , Texas Tech (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) travels to Arkansas (1-1, 0-0 SEC) for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN2, and Toledo (1-0, 0-0 MAC) hosts Iowa State (1-1, 0-0 Big 12) at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN News. A pair of games will be available on ESPN3 starting at 12:30 p.m. Central Michigan (1-1, 0-0 MAC) faces Syracuse (2-0, 1-0 ACC), and William & Mary (1-0, 0-0 CAA) plays at Virginia (0-2, 0-0 ACC) at 3:30 p.m. NC State (2-0, 0-0 ACC) rounds off the day’s action, heading to Old Dominion (2-0, 0-0 CUSA) for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
All times listed are Eastern Time Zone (ET), and all games are on Saturday unless otherwise listed.