Irish get lucky with ACC lineup in 2016

Ever since Notre Dame began playing 4-6 ACC teams per year in football in 2014, the Fighting Irish have encountered multiple bumps in the road.

Two seasons ago, they lost half their matchups against ACC teams, falling to Florida State and Louisville. Last season, they fared better with five wins against the league, but they still came up short at Clemson in October.

This fall, Notre Dame has to feel better about the five ACC squads on its schedule.

ESPN’s post-spring Way-Too-Early Top 25 released last week included five ACC teams: Clemson (No. 2), Florida State (No. 4), North Carolina (No. 19), Miami (No. 24) and Louisville (No. 25). The Irish, who came in at No. 9 on that list, play just one of those teams this season — Miami in South Bend.

Outside of the Hurricanes, Brian Kelly’s group will face Duke and Virginia Tech at home, as well as Syracuse and NC State on the road.

Certainly not a cakewalk, but far from a brutal lineup.

Of Notre Dame’s five ACC opponents this season, none finished with more than eight wins in 2015, and four face questions at…

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