Miami to open against UAB, gets FSU in September and Clemson in October. Details here:
The University of Miami will become the first Atlantic Coast Conference team to open the 2020 football season on Thursday, Sept. 10, at home against lone nonconference opponent UAB — that is, if the season proceeds as planned, which could be a big “if’’ in the age of COVID-19.
On Thursday, the ACC announced its revised composite schedule for each of the ACC’s 15 teams, which includes Notre Dame this season (but not against Miami) because of the altered playing plan in light of the pandemic.
The two big games for which Hurricanes fans have awaited the dates: archrival Florida State at Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 26; and at national champion runner-up Clemson on Oct. 10 — two weeks after FSU but one week after a bye. The Canes originally were supposed to meet FSU on Nov. 7.
The meeting between UM (6-7 in 2019) and UAB (9-5) marks the first game in history between the programs and will allow Conference USA’s Blazers to collect its $1.5 million payout.
Here is UM’s new schedule:
Sept. 10 (Thursday): UAB (Hard Rock Stadium)
Sept. 19: At Louisville
Sept. 26: FSU (Hard Rock)
Oct. 3: Bye
Oct. 10: At Clemson
Oct. 17: Pittsburgh (Hard Rock)
Oct. 24: Virginia (Hard Rock)
Oct. 31: Bye
Nov. 6 (Friday): At North Carolina State
Nov. 14: At Virginia Tech
Nov. 21: Georgia Tech (Hard Rock)
Nov. 28: At Wake Forest
Dec. 5: North Carolina (Hard Rock)
Clemson has reached the College Football Playoff the past five seasons, winning national titles against Alabama after the 2016 and 2018 seasons. The Tigers are 6-5 all-time against UM, including a 38-3 victory in the ACC title game the last time they played in 2017.
In announcing its schedule, the ACC wrote in a release that “If public health guidance allows, the schedule will begin Thursday, Sept. 10,” another reminder that the coronavirus will have the biggest say in the future of the season.
Game times and television information will be released at a later date.
“The health, safety and well-being of all our campus constituents is at the forefront of all decisions and the schedule announcement follows several months of discussion and scenario planning among the league membership and the ACC’s Medical Advisory Group,” the ACC wrote in its release.
The 2020 ACC Football Championship Game will be either Dec. 12 or 19 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
To accommodate the revised ACC format, Miami was forced to scratch nonconference opponents Temple and Wagner. Temple was originally set as the Sept. 5 opener. Wagner was originally set for Sept. 12.
The Temple series was scheduled as a home-and-home, with the Canes traveling to Philadelphia in 2023. And Wagner had to cancel regardless because its Northeast Conference scratched all fall sports.
Michigan State, originally set as a road game in late September, was previously canceled after the Big 10 announced it would only play league games this season.
UM’s original schedule was announced Jan. 22 and encompassed an Oct. 3 ACC opener at home against Pitt. In addition to Clemson, the revised schedule added Louisville and North Carolina State and scratched Duke.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 9:04 AM.
