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Circled games in 2025

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Jayden Hewitt

Jayden Hewitt

Joined
Jul 18, 2025
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18
Let me preface this article by saying, I don’t think there is any significant difference in importance between regular-season games in college football. Anyone can beat you, and every single game is a must-win.

With that being said, I’ve been looking at the schedule, and it’s not easy. I do think there is a real possibility of losing one or two games. After all, it’s tough to go undefeated.

But losing a game or two, especially to good teams, isn’t the postseason death sentence it used to...

Continue reading...
 
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First off, welcome to the site, Jayden. I think that was a well written article. I have no idea if you're looking at starting a career in sports journalism or just dabbling in it. Keep at it, chase your dreams if so.
This is all my opinion. As a older Hurricanes fan, I see the same old easy schedule that we never dominate. I will start by saying, no one in the ACC has a hard schedule. It's true, anyone can lose any game, but the ACC is weak in general. The portal has only weakened it more, as only a few ACC programs have the money to be competitive in this era. The ACC TV money doesn't provide a competitive $ contract. As far as roster match-up's, only ND should be competitive and UF could keep it relatively close. Both OOC games, obviously. The ACC teams were plucked apart again this off season because they don't have the funding, mostly. While still losing some talent, I believe UVA is the only program in the ACC outside of Miami that helped themselves. Cuse is considerably weaker and I will guess Pry is fired at the end of the season. FSU helped themselves with a slight talent upgrade and staff changes that could make them 500 this season. UF lost talent, where I see them weaker. SMU's schedule is tougher this year and they just shouldn't be competitive with Miami or Clemson. I find UL more competitive than SMU, as I believe Brohm is a superior O coach to Lashlee. This football season for Miami is 100% on coaching. The roster is there, no excuses. Outside of injury to Beck, Miami shouldn't lose a game other than ND, that I think they can win. I am being more than fair conceding a 10-2 record, ACC Championship game entry and playoff berth. I really believe this team is about the 8th best roster in the country and a really good HC beats ND and shouldn't lose a game on the schedule. That is tough, so I concede 1 loss for the season with a really good staff, but it would be to a inferior opponent. Clemson in the ACC Championship would be the 1st opponent with a better team and Miami still has the better roster. Now what if Klubnick goes down?
Beck stays healthy, ACC Championship entry and playoff berth or Mario is on the hotseat. He with $ got us here, so I am pulling for him. Go Canes!
 
Problem2 said:
D$ got the sweatshop working dawg
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His daddy named him DMoney for a reason

Rubbing Hands Scheming GIF by HRejterzy
 
the aways at SMU and VT are toss ups.

UF at home should be a win.

ND is gonna be tough but youre at home and should be 100 percent healthy so no excuses, beat them, esp as they lost a lot off their runner up team last year.
 
JaydenTHewitt said:
That wouldn’t be as fun though! But in all seriousness, we all as fans know there’s some games that carry a bit more weight - whether that be for the playoff, or for the conference - those were the biggest factors into this article. Appreciate the feedback!
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Had to throw a little light roasting for your first post

Good job on the article honestly
 
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VT is not a toss up and either is SMU, both these team lost significant portal guys (like 5 or 6 each). WE only lost horton and riley (not huge loss). Here is facts VT has been a 500 team at home last 10 year, coach Frye will probably be canned by our game and we won their last two times. SMU was lucky against duke last year (should of had two losses in regulars season with **** poor schedule, their qb while great runner is very turnover prone. IF they start chris johnson at rb and jeffrey mbra at DT they wont be more than a 7 win team this year. WE should win both games by double digits. Lousville scares me a little and Pitt as far as acc. FSU, stanford, cuse, nc state and are going to be *** this year.
 
ND- We're basically 2 games up on them for CFBPO positioning if we win. Set's a major tone for the season.

UL/SMU- They each play Clemson. UL will be a pain in the ***. Take care of business here and we have our spot in the ACCCG*.

uF- You guys don't want to here this, but how often did we hear "# of wins vs ranked teams" when we had a sliver of a shot that last weekend before the PO teams were chosen. Beat uF, and let them do damage in the SEC.

VT/Pitt- Our best team in the last 18 years has been the 2016 team, IMO, because the one win differential is easily offset by how we finished.
Since then, we're 17-16 in November/December games, overall, and 7-9 on the road. It's not a trend, It's who we are. Since 2017 we're a .500+/- football team in ALL games vs P4/P5. We haven't been very good..average at best. We expect something different in November?
Fricken Sea Girt Al went up to Pitt, twice, and beat them last game of the season.
VT and Pitt are middle of the road ACC teams. Very good teams find a way to beat these types.

FSU- If we don't beat them we don't belong.

Mario has to get back on schedule and take care of business this year.
Two losses somewhere up there^ will happen. Just find a way to get to the ACCCG and playoffs.

*watch out for GT with the '24 SMU-type schedule.
 
Cane30 said:
First off, welcome to the site, Jayden. I think that was a well written article. I have no idea if you're looking at starting a career in sports journalism or just dabbling in it. Keep at it, chase your dreams if so.
This is all my opinion. As a older Hurricanes fan, I see the same old easy schedule that we never dominate. I will start by saying, no one in the ACC has a hard schedule. It's true, anyone can lose any game, but the ACC is weak in general. The portal has only weakened it more, as only a few ACC programs have the money to be competitive in this era. The ACC TV money doesn't provide a competitive $ contract. As far as roster match-up's, only ND should be competitive and UF could keep it relatively close. Both OOC games, obviously. The ACC teams were plucked apart again this off season because they don't have the funding, mostly. While still losing some talent, I believe UVA is the only program in the ACC outside of Miami that helped themselves. Cuse is considerably weaker and I will guess Pry is fired at the end of the season. FSU helped themselves with a slight talent upgrade and staff changes that could make them 500 this season. UF lost talent, where I see them weaker. SMU's schedule is tougher this year and they just shouldn't be competitive with Miami or Clemson. I find UL more competitive than SMU, as I believe Brohm is a superior O coach to Lashlee. This football season for Miami is 100% on coaching. The roster is there, no excuses. Outside of injury to Beck, Miami shouldn't lose a game other than ND, that I think they can win. I am being more than fair conceding a 10-2 record, ACC Championship game entry and playoff berth. I really believe this team is about the 8th best roster in the country and a really good HC beats ND and shouldn't lose a game on the schedule. That is tough, so I concede 1 loss for the season with a really good staff, but it would be to a inferior opponent. Clemson in the ACC Championship would be the 1st opponent with a better team and Miami still has the better roster. Now what if Klubnick goes down?
Beck stays healthy, ACC Championship entry and playoff berth or Mario is on the hotseat. He with $ got us here, so I am pulling for him. Go Canes!
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Glad to be here. I am actually a journalism major (sports focus) at Michigan State right now. Grew up a Canes fan and needed a place to get in some reps with growth opportunities while I work full-time. D$ is the man and let me tag along. Definitely the plan, but dabbling for now. I’m with you, I like our chances this season. I chose a lot of these games based on home/away, and implications. That’s why I opted against Louisville being one of my “circled games” because SMU is an away game, and regardless of roster, will likely end up being a harder environment to win in. Unless UL fans decide to pack the rock lol. But I think you make a lot of great points here. I welcome all feedback, good or bad, I was really interested to hear from the veterans on their thoughts! I’d argue really only against the hot seat thought, I think it’d take an eight-win season to start thinking of firing someone. But I’ve been wrong my fair share of times in the past.
 
ricardomejias said:
VT is not a toss up and either is SMU, both these team lost significant portal guys (like 5 or 6 each). WE only lost horton and riley (not huge loss). Here is facts VT has been a 500 team at home last 10 year, coach Frye will probably be canned by our game and we won their last two times. SMU was lucky against duke last year (should have had two losses in regulars season with **** poor schedule, their qb while great runner is very turnover prone. IF they start chris johnson at rb and jeffrey mbra at DT they wont be more than a 7 win team this year. WE should win both games by double digits. Lousville scares me a little and Pitt as far as acc. FSU, stanford, cuse, nc state and are going to be *** this year.
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Wouldn’t label them toss-ups by any means. We should handle business, but they’re both late season road games. We know how “trap” games have treated us in the past. Which is why they’re of significance to me, at least. But I always welcome opinions. I’m definitely more concerned with road games than home ones, always.
 
JHallCanes said:
Had to throw a little light roasting for your first post

Good job on the article honestly
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Thank you man! I welcome it, I’m not new to it at all, we know how Canes Twitter is. I have some background there, I’ll do an intro post here soon and some people may recognize me.
 
ricardomejias said:
VT is not a toss up and either is SMU, both these team lost significant portal guys (like 5 or 6 each). WE only lost horton and riley (not huge loss). Here is facts VT has been a 500 team at home last 10 year, coach Frye will probably be canned by our game and we won their last two times. SMU was lucky against duke last year (should have had two losses in regulars season with **** poor schedule, their qb while great runner is very turnover prone. IF they start chris johnson at rb and jeffrey mbra at DT they wont be more than a 7 win team this year. WE should win both games by double digits. Lousville scares me a little and Pitt as far as acc. FSU, stanford, cuse, nc state and are going to be *** this year.
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Saying SMU is not a toss up is absolutely ******* wild but do your thing
 
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ricardomejias said:
VT is not a toss up and either is SMU, both these team lost significant portal guys (like 5 or 6 each). WE only lost horton and riley (not huge loss). Here is facts VT has been a 500 team at home last 10 year, coach Frye will probably be canned by our game and we won their last two times. SMU was lucky against duke last year (should of had two losses in regulars season with **** poor schedule, their qb while great runner is very turnover prone. IF they start chris johnson at rb and jeffrey mbra at DT they wont be more than a 7 win team this year. WE should win both games by double digits. Lousville scares me a little and Pitt as far as acc. FSU, stanford, cuse, nc state and are going to be *** this year.
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Almost every P4 game is a toss up for this program.
 
I worry about UF to be honest

There is a long history of when two big OOC teams meet in b2b years…If the road team pulls the upset in game one. The losing road team plays very well and often returns the favor in game 2.
 
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