Where Cal, SMU, Stanford stack up with ACC football teams in 2024
The ACC is officially a coast-to-coast league.
As of July 1, Cal brings the ACC’s total schools to 16. SMU and Stanford will officially join the fold on August 2 and all three schools begin conference competition this fall.
“This summer marks a momentous occasion for the ACC with the addition of three prestigious institutions — Cal, SMU, and Stanford,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said in a league-issued statement, which was released Monday.
“Since our announcement last September, the conference has been diligently preparing to become an 18-member league that spans from coast to coast. We look forward to the future of this incredible league and extend a warm welcome to the student-athletes, coaches, staff, campus communities, alumni, and supporters of Cal, SMU, and Stanford into the ACC.”
ACC Kickoff, the conference’s annual preseason football event, begins July 22 in Charlotte with SMU kicking things off for the new programs. Cal and Stanford are scheduled to provide their head coach and athletes on July 23.
Before those teams head to Charlotte, here’s a look at each of them and what their arrivals mean for Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State. The Tar Heels aren’t scheduled to play one of the three arrivals until 2025.
ACC football predictions, odds for Cal, SMU, Stanford
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
Here’s a brief breakdown of the schedules, win totals and ACC championship odds for Cal, SMU and Stanford in 2024.
Cal football to host NC State
The Golden Bears host N.C. State (Oct. 19), but aren’t scheduled to play the other two Triangle teams in their inaugural ACC season. It’ll be the Wolfpack’s first regular season game on the west coast since 1960. Cal is coming off four straight seasons with a losing record, but the Bears have the 17th-best transfer portal class, according to 247Sports. BetMGM has Cal’s over/under regular season win total at 6 ½ with the 10th-best odds (+5000) to win the ACC championship.
SMU football traveling to Duke
Like Cal, SMU is scheduled to face one school from the Triangle in its debut season in the league. The Mustangs will play Duke on Oct. 26 for the first time since 1956. Coming off an 11-win season, which included a championship run in the American Athletic Conference, SMU is projected to field the best team among the newcomers. The Mustangs have posted a winning record in five straight seasons, including two with double-digit wins. BetMGM has SMU’s over/under regular season win total at 7 ½ with the eighth-best odds (+1600) to win the ACC championship.
Stanford football to face NC State for first time
The Cardinal and N.C. State will meet for the first time on Nov. 2 at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack is the only Triangle team scheduled to play multiple teams from the expansion. Stanford, which hasn’t won more than four games in a season since 2018, is projected to have the worst team among the newcomers. BetMGM has the Cardinal’s over/under regular season win total at 3 ½ with the longest odds (+50000) to win the ACC.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cal, SMU, Stanford football predictions, odds entering ACC in 2024
