The 2024 ACC Football Championship Game is set to captivate fans with a primetime kickoff at 8 p.m. ET on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 7. The game will be held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, marking the 15th time in the past 16 years that the game has been held under the lights.
This year is significant as it introduces a 17-team ACC football lineup, making the competition for the championship more intense. For the second consecutive season, the league’s championship game will feature the top two teams determined by their regular-season conference winning percentage.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips expressed excitement about the upcoming season and the championship game. “There will be great anticipation throughout the season as our teams compete to earn a spot in the 2024 ACC Football Championship Game. We are thrilled it will once again be played in primetime on ABC and at Bank of America Stadium directly across from our conference office headquarters,” Phillips said. He also highlighted the formidable non-conference schedule that ACC teams will face, enhancing the season's competitive edge.
Last season, Florida State emerged victorious, defeating Louisville 16-6 to claim their fifth ACC Football Championship Game title and their 16th ACC title overall. Since its inception in 2005, the championship game has seen 13 different teams compete, showcasing the depth and talent within the conference.
Bank of America Stadium has been a consistent host for the championship, with an agreement in place to keep the game in Charlotte through 2030. The stadium has averaged nearly 70,000 fans in attendance for the championship games, excluding the 2020 game with limited attendance due to the pandemic.
The ACC’s prominence in the national spotlight is further emphasized by its record in the College Football Playoff (CFP). The conference has advanced a team to the National Championship Game or the CFP in eight of the last 11 seasons, solidifying its status as a powerhouse in college football.
ACC Notes
- Quarterback Talent: The ACC is renowned for its quarterback talent, with returning starters such as Thomas Castellanos (Boston College) and Cade Klubnik (Clemson), along with notable transfers like Maalik Murphy (Duke) and DJ Uiagalelei (Florida State). CBS Sports ranks the ACC's group of quarterback transfers as the top in 2024.
- NFL Presence: Eight ACC quarterbacks are projected to start in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, representing 25% of the league’s teams. The ACC is also the only conference to have had a quarterback drafted in the first round in five different drafts since 2018.
- Challenging Non-Conference Schedule: The ACC's non-conference schedule is the toughest in the country, featuring 27 games against Power 4 opponents, including Notre Dame, and nine games against teams ranked in the final 2023 AP Top 25 Poll.
- Elite Coaching: The ACC boasts six head coaches on the 2024 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List, more than any other conference. The league also features two of the three active coaches who have won a national title — Dabo Swinney of Clemson, who led the team to championships in 2016 and 2018.
With a season filled with anticipation and a primetime championship game, the 2024 ACC football season promises to deliver excitement and high-stakes competition, culminating in the showdown on Dec. 7 at Bank of America Stadium.
