The ACC released its 2012 football schedule Monday, starting with N.C. State's Aug. 31 game against Tennessee at the Georgia Dome and ending Nov. 24 with the usual slate of Georgia-Georgia Tech, Clemson-South Carolina and Florida State-Florida. A look at Tech's schedule:
Opener: Tech will open at Virginia Tech in a prime-time Labor Day game. In every year since the ACC split into two divisions in 2005, the winner of the Hokies-Jackets game has advanced to the ACC title game.
It's the first time that the Yellow Jackets will open with an FBS opponent in Paul Johnson's tenure and the first time Tech has opened against a conference opponent since 1996. In Johnson's first four seasons, Tech opened at home against an FCS team.
Closer: Tech will play Georgia for the 107th time, Nov. 24 in Athens. The Jackets will try to end a run in which the Bulldogs have won 10 of the past 11 meetings. The Saturday prior, Georgia will play Georgia Southern, which runs an offense similar to Tech's.
No Thursday: Because of the nationally-televised Labor Day game, Tech won't play a Thursday night ESPN game for the first time since 1992, ending a 19-year streak. Thursday night games in Midtown have become a fixture on ESPN's football schedule.
Byes: Duke and North Carolina will play the Jackets after open dates. When Tech plays Boston College Oct. 20 after its open date, it will be the Eagles' fourth game in a row and third consecutive on the road. The Jackets will play BYU Oct. 27 when the Cougars will be playing their ninth consecutive game without a bye.
Toughest stretch: From the jump, Tech will play three division opponents, Virginia Tech, Virginia and Miami, in three of its first four games. Before the month of September is over, the Jackets could be well-positioned or virtually eliminated from ACC title contention. Tech went 0-3 against the three teams last fall.
About Presbyterian: Tech added Presbyterian as its Sept. 8 opponent after moving Middle Tennessee State out of that spot to Sept. 29.The Blue Hose finished tied for third in the Big South Conference last year and were 4-7 overall. They have played three FBS-level teams since moving to FCS in 2007 and lost them by a combined 174-46. A Blue Hose, if you're wondering, is a fierce Scottish warrior.
Renewing acquaintances: Tech has not played Boston College since 2008, Johnson's first season at Tech. The Jackets' last game against BYU was a 24-13 loss to the Cougars in Provo in 2003. Tech hasn't played Presbyterian since 1937, when coach William Alexander led the Jackets to a 59-0 win.
Home/road balance: Tech will play six of its first eight games at Bobby Dodd Stadium, including four home dates in a row, but then three of its last four will be on the road. When the Jackets play BYU Oct. 27 in their sixth home game, N.C. State will have played three home games.
Speaking of the road, the longest road trip this season is to Maryland. It's about an 11-hour drive from Atlanta to College Park, Md. Monday, the cheapest non-stop flight to any Washington airport on kayak.com leaving Atlanta the day before the game and returning on Sunday was $301.
Around the ACC
Miami plays Notre Dame at Chicago's Soldier Field Oct. 6. … Virginia Tech plays two consecutive Thursday night games, Nov. 1 at Miami and Nov. 8 at Florida State. … North Carolina will finish against Maryland Nov. 24, the first time it won't conclude with either Duke or N.C. State since 2005. ... Clemson, Florida State and Miami play Virginia Tech coming off a bye week, although the Hokies will also have a bye prior to playing Miami.
2012 Georgia Tech football schedule
Sept. 3 – at Virginia Tech
Sept. 8 – Presbyterian
Sept. 15 – Virginia
Sept. 22 – Miami
Sept. 29 – Middle Tennessee State
Oct. 6 – at Clemson
Oct. 13 – Open date
Oct. 20 – Boston College
Oct. 27 – BYU
Nov. 3 – at Maryland
Nov. 10 – at North Carolina
Nov. 17 – Duke
Nov. 24 – at Georgia
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