GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Defending national
champion Florida State’s selection as the No. 3 seed in inaugural College
Football Playoff highlighted a Sunday in which 11 of the Atlantic Coast
Conference’s 14 football members – along with Notre Dame – were chosen to
participate in postseason bowl games.
The number of selections matches the total from 2013, when
the ACC became the first-ever conference to place 11 teams in bowl games. The
ACC also has a chance to match its 2013 achievement of having all 11 of its
postseason teams finish with winning records – something that had not been
accomplished since 1932 prior to last season.
Florida State (13-0), which defeated Orange Bowl-bound
Georgia Tech 37-35 in Saturday night’s Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship game
to claim it third-straight league title, carries a 29-game winning streak into
its Jan. 1 meeting with second-seeded Oregon (12-1) in the opening round for
the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Day.
The Seminoles’ winning streak ties for the 12th
longest in college football history.
A trio of ACC schools will continue the three longest
current bowl streaks in the NCAA in Florida State (33 straight, first),
Virginia Tech (22 straight, second) and Georgia Tech (18 straight, tied for
third with Georgia).
Florida State and Oregon will meet for the first time
in their Jan. 1 College Football Playoff meeting in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s
Day (5 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Seminoles, who claimed their third national title
with a 34-31 win over Auburn in Pasadena last January, will become the first
ACC team to play in the Rose Bowl two consecutive seasons.
No. 12 Georgia Tech (10-3) faces No. 7 Mississippi
State (10-2) in the Capital One Orange Bowl at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve at Sun
Life Stadium in Miami Gardens. Georgia Tech owns a 3-3 all-time record in the Orange
Bowl, with its most recent appearance coming versus Iowa following the 2009
season. The Coastal Division champion Yellow Jackets are 4-0 all-time versus
Mississippi State, with the most recent meeting resulting in a 42-31 Tech road
win during the aforementioned 2009 season. The Yellow Jackets will be making
their 43rd overall bowl appearance.
Joining Florida State and Georgia Tech from the ACC will be Boston
College (New Era Pinstripe Bowl), Clemson (Russell Athletic Bowl), Duke
(Hyundai Sun Bowl), Louisville (Belk Bowl), Miami (Duck Commander
Independence Bowl), North Carolina (Quick Lane Bowl), NC State
(Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl), Pitt (Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl)
and Virginia Tech (Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman).
Boston College (7-5 this season) will carry a 13-10
all-time record into postseason bowl appearances when it plays in the New Era
Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 27 (4:30 p.m. ESPN). The
game will mark the ACC’s first year of affiliation with the New York game,
which originated in 2010.
Clemson’s appearance in the Russell Athletic Bowl is
set for Monday, Dec. 29 (5:30 p.m., ESPN). The Tigers (9-3), ranked 17th
nationally, have won two straight bowl games and will carry an 18-18 all-time
postseason record into the contest.
Duke (9-3), which extends its school-record bowl game
appearance streak to three consecutive years, will play in the Sun Bowl for the
first time on Saturday, Dec. 27 (2 p.m., CBS). It will be the 11th
bowl appearance for the Blue Devils, who are 3-7 all-time in postseason games.
Louisville (9-3), ranked 21st nationally,
will make its first bowl appearance as an ACC member and its second trip to the
Belk Bowl when it plays in the Charlotte, North Carolina, game on Tuesday, Dec.
30 (6:30 p.m., ESPN). The Cardinals own a 9-8-1 all-time record in bowl games,
including wins each of the previous two years.
Miami (6-6) makes its first Duck Commander
Independence Bowl appearance and its 38th bowl appearance overall on
Saturday, Dec. 27 at 3:30 p.m. (ABC). The Hurricanes own a 19-18 all-time
record in bowl game appearances.
North Carolina (6-6) makes its first visit to Detroit
for the Quick Lane Bowl on Friday, Dec. 26, at 4:30 pm. (ESPN). The Tar Heels
have won two of their last three bowl game appearances and stand 14-16 all-time
in postseason games.
NC State (7-5) is set to meet UCF (9-3) in the St.
Pete Bitcoin Bowl on Friday, Dec. 26 (8 p.m. ESPN). The Wolfpack stands 14-12-1
all-time in bowl games and will be taking part in postseason play for the first
time under second-year head coach Dave Doeren.
Pitt (6-6) has a noon date with Houston (9-3) on
Friday, Jan. 2 in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Fort Worth, Texas.
The Panthers, who stand 13-17 all-time in bowl games, will be playing in their
second bowl in as many years as an ACC member.
Virginia Tech (6-6) will take on Cincinnati (9-3) in
the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman at Annapolis, Maryland, on
Saturday, Dec. 27 at 1 p.m. (ESPN). It will be the 27th overall game
for the Hokies, who look to improve on a 10-17 postseason ledger.
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