The ACC released the league's 2010 football schedule on Thursday and it's a solid one for UNC.
| Saturday, Sept. 4 | vs. LSU (@ Atlanta) |
| Saturday, Sept. 11 | open |
| Saturday, Sept. 18 | Georgia Tech |
| Saturday, Sept. 25 | @ Rutgers |
| Saturday, Oct. 2 | ECU |
| Saturday, Oct. 9 | Clemson |
| Saturday, Oct. 16 | @ Virginia |
| Saturday, Oct. 23 | @ Miami |
| Saturday, Oct. 30 | William & Mary |
| Saturday, Nov. 6 | @ Florida State |
| Saturday, Nov. 13 | Virginia Tech |
| Saturday, Nov. 20 | N.C. State |
| Saturday, Nov. 27 | @ Duke |
Some initial thoughts:
- No "cupcake city" and "two Division I-AA opponents" talk in this schedule. Non-conference is at Rutgers, two-time C-USA champ ECU, LSU in Atlanta, and William & Mary, plus last year's other division champ Clemson.
- Tough opener in Atlanta against LSU, but with a Les Miles-coached team, you're always in the game.
- Open week to prepare for Georgia Tech is nice. Teams with the extra week seem to figure out Paul Johnson's offense.
- Open date is early, then 11 straight games. Hope UNC does not end up being injury-prone.
- Charlottesville. Scott Stadium. Since 1980. Gives me chills just thinking about it.
- Great home schedule from a fan's standpoint - ECU, Clemson, VT, State, Georgia Tech, and the Mike Paulus homecoming game against Bill & Mary.
It will definitely be put-up-or-shut-up time against that schedule. Some big wins against that slate can turn some heads nationally; on the other hand, key injuries and weak offensive production can spell 6-6 very quickly.