By Carlos Pineda
SouthernPigskin.com

Follow us at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin.  Become a fan at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page

ACC schedule features plenty of exciting matchups in 2015.

The ACC released its 2015 football schedule on Thursday, highlighted by what’s become the league’s marquee matchup for the last six years.

Since 2009, the winner of the Clemson-Florida State game has represented the Atlantic Division in the league’s championship game. After being scheduled for September and October the last four years, this year’s matchup will be played on Nov. 7 in Death Valley.

The Seminoles finished the 2014 season with a 13-1 record and No. 3 in the final College Football Playoff ranking. But the upcoming season may be considered a rebuilding year for FSU. Jameis Winston declared for the NFL after going 27-1 as starting quarterback, and leading the Noles to a national title and a semifinal appearance in the first College Football Playoff. FSU opens the season against Texas State on Sept. 5, and faces a tough three-game stretch in October, hosting Miami (Oct. 10) and Louisville (Oct. 17), followed by a road game against Georgia Tech (Oct. 24). The Seminoles finish the season in Gainesville on Nov. 28 against rival Florida.

After capping off an impressive 10-3 season by dismantling Oklahoma 40-6 in the postseason, Clemson is sure to be the early favorite to win the Atlantic Division. The Tigers travel to Louisville at the end of September for a Thursday night showdown (Sept. 17) against the Cardinals. Following a bye week, they host Notre Dame in a non-conference game (Oct. 3) and Coastal Division champion Georgia Tech (Oct. 10). Clemson faces Miami on the road two weeks later Oct. 24, before closing out the season at rival South Carolina (Nov. 28).

The Orange Bowl champion Yellow Jackets begin the new season against Alcorn State (Sept. 3), before going on the road two weeks later to face Notre Dame in a non-league game on Sept. 19. GT hits an important three-game stretch with games at Duke (Sept. 26) and Clemson (Oct. 10), while facing North Carolina at home on Oct. 3. Florida State comes to Atlanta on Oct. 24 in the first regular season meeting between these two programs since 2009. Georgia Tech ends the season against Virginia Tech on Thursday, Nov. 12, Miami on the road (Nov. 21) and rival Georgia on Nov. 28.

The ACC schedule will feature 24 games against non-conference teams that played in a bowl game last year, including four non-conference games against Power 5 schools during the opening week.

North Carolina opens the season against South Carolina on Thursday, Sept. 3 in Charlotte. On Saturday, Sept. 5, Louisville and Auburn meet in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game and Virginia travels west to face UCLA.

On Labor Day, Virginia Tech is set to host the defending national champions Ohio State in Blacksburg. The Hokies handed the Buckeyes their lone loss in 2014, a 35-21 victory in the Horseshoe in Columbus.

The ACC made a lot of noise last season, including a clean sweep over the SEC on the final day of the regular season. It was the first time since 2000 that Florida State, Georgia Tech and Clemson all won against their SEC rivals in the same season.

Below is a list of each team’s full schedule.

Boston College

Home Games: Maine, Howard, Florida State, Northern Illinois, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, NC State

Away Games: Duke, Clemson, Louisville, Syracuse

Neutral: Notre Dame (Fenway Park)

Clemson

Home Games: Wofford, Appalachian State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Florida State, Wake Forest

Away Games: Louisville, Miami, NC State, Syracuse, South Carolina

Duke

Home Games: North Carolina Central, Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Miami, Pitt

Away Games: Tulane, Army, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia, Wake Forest

Florida State

Home Games: Texas State, South Florida, Miami, Louisville, Syracuse, NC State, Chattanooga

Away Games: Boston College, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida

Georgia Tech

Home Games: Alcorn State, Tulane, North Carolina, Pitt, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Georgia

Away Games: Notre Dame, Duke, Clemson, Virginia, Miami

Louisville

Home Games: Houston, Clemson, Samford, Boston College, Syracuse, Virginia

Away Games: NC State, Florida State, Wake Forest, Pitt, Kentucky

Neutral: Auburn (Georgia Dome)

Miami

Home Games: Bethune Cookman, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Virginia, Georgia Tech

Away Games: FAU, Cincinnati, Florida State, Duke, North Carolina, Pitt

North Carolina

Home Games: North Carolina A&T, Illinois, Delaware, Wake Forest, Virginia, Duke, Miami

Away Games: Georgia Tech, Pitt, Virginia Tech, NC State

Neutral: South Carolina (Charlotte)

NC State

Home Games: Troy, Eastern Kentucky, Louisville, Clemson, Syracuse, North Carolina

Away Games: Old Dominion, South Alabama, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Boston College, Florida State

Pitt

Home Games: Youngstown State, Virginia, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Louisville, Miami

Away Games: Akron, Iowa, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Duke

Syracuse

Home Games: Rhode Island, Wake Forest, Central Michigan, LSU, Pitt, Clemson, Boston College

Away Games: South Florida, Virginia, Florida State, Louisville, NC State

Virginia

Home Games: Notre Dame, William & Mary, Boise State, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Duke, Virginia Tech

Away Games: UCLA, Pitt, North Carolina, Miami, Louisville

Virginia Tech

Home Games: Ohio State, Furman, Pitt, NC State, Duke, North Carolina

Away Games: Purdue, East Carolina, Miami, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Virginia

Wake Forest

Home Games: Elon, Indiana, Florida State, NC State, Louisville, Duke

Away Games: Syracuse, Army, Boston College, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Clemson

*Bold indicates conference games