Beginning with a nearly 4,000-mile road trip, Georgia Tech’s ACC schedule will bring its share of challenges as the Yellow Jackets attempt to rebound from a 3-9 record in 2015.
Tech will begin with its Sept. 3 season opener in Dublin against Boston College. After two non-conference games, the next league matchup will be against what would appear to be its strongest opponent, ACC champion Clemson, on a short week of rest. In its only Thursday game of the season, the Jacket will play five days after facing Vanderbilt. Clemson will also have a short week, although its previous opponent will be FCS South Carolina State.
Notably, three of Tech’s Coastal Division opponents – Miami, Duke and North Carolina – will play the Jackets after an open date, although Tech will also be coming off its only open week of the season when it faces the Blue Devils.
Sept. 3 – Boston College in Dublin. The Jackets' first game on international soil will be against the 2015 leader in total defense.
Sept. 10 – Mercer. After 101 years, the Bears and Jackets finally meet again. Mercer will be in its fourth season after re-launching football in 2013.
Sept. 17 – Vanderbilt. It will be the Commodores' first game at Bobby Dodd Field since 2002.
Sept. 22 – Clemson. The dreaded short week for a visit from the national runners-up.
Oct. 1 – Miami. New coach Mark Richt will make his appearance on Bobby Dodd Stadium's east sideline in the Hurricanes' orange and green. It will be Tech's fourth consecutive home game.
Oct. 8 – at Pittsburgh. Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi will be pressed to come up with more answers for the Jackets after giving up 482 yards to the Jackets last October.
Oct. 15 – Georgia Southern. Rematch with the Eagles after 2014 thriller that was the first significant win in the Jackets' Orange Bowl season. The game was originally scheduled for Nov. 19, the week before the Georgia game.
Oct. 22 – open date.
Oct. 29 – Duke. Tech will try to end a two-game losing streak to the Blue Devils. The last time the Jackets lost three in a row to Duke was 1987-89, when Steve Spurrier coached the Blue Devils.
Nov. 5 – at North Carolina. This will be the fifth season in a row Tech has played Duke and North Carolina back-to-back.
Nov. 12 – at Virginia Tech. The Jackets will get their first look at coach Justin Fuentes, hired from Memphis. Unfortunately for the Jackets, Fuentes retained defensive coordinator Bud Foster.
Nov. 19 – Virginia. The Cavaliers come to Atlanta with new coach Bronco Mendenhall. Tech has won eight of the last 10 at Bobby Dodd against Virginia.
Nov. 26 – at Georgia. As Paul Johnson was quick to remind media following the Jackets' win in Athens in 2014, he's 2-2 at Sanford Stadium.
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