College football is back! And that means so is the Miami Hurricanes rooting guide. With the Hurricanes vying for its first ACC Coastal Championship, here is the first edition of who to root for in the ACC this week.

Thursday, August 31st

Presbyterian College 7, Wake Forest 51

This is already in the past, but Canes’ fans should have sat back and enjoyed the return of college football. Miami doesn’t play Wake Forest this season so this game is almost irrelevant. The Deacons’ held serve by dominating Presbyterian and holding face for the ACC as a conference.

Friday, September 1st

Central Connecticut at Syracuse, 7:00 PM (ACC Network)

The Hurricanes play Syracuse on October 21 at Hard Rock Stadium. With that being said, Canes’ fans should be rooting for the Orange. Cuse is most likely to lose a bunch of games before playing Miami in October, and for that matchup to hold more weight for the Hurricanes, root for Syracuse.

Boston College at Northern Illinois, 9:30 PM (CBS Sports Network)

Very rarely do you see a power five team play on the road week one at a MAC host, but that is what we have here with this matchup. Boston College will not be very competitive in the ACC this season and the Eagles are not on Miami’s schedule. Root for Boston College in this game as it will bolster the ACC’s strength and set up Boston College as a stronger team for when they play Virginia Tech, Virginia and Florida State later in the season.

Saturday, September 2nd

Kent State at #5 Clemson, 12:00 PM (ESPN)

Who wouldn’t like to see a crazy upset week one? As much as college football fans across the country would love to see a miracle, the Tigers should annihilate Kent State. Miami fans should be cheering on the Tigers most of this season, including in this one, as they will be Florida State’s main competition in the Atlantic.

California at North Carolina, 12:20 PM (ACC Network)

Miami squares off against North Carolina on October 28 in Raleigh, NC. With North Carolina losing Mitchell Trubisky, the Hurricanes will want to get some new film on the Tar Heels. With UNC hosting the Golden Bears week one, North Carolina will have to showcase some of its playbook. With the Canes playing the Tar Heels later this season, Miami fans should be rooting for North Carolina this week to get the 2017 season off on the right foot and build up a stronger résumé for that late October showdown.

Bethune-Cookman at #18 Miami, 12:30 PM (ACC Network)

Do I need to say anything? The reason why most of you are reading this website is to find out more about the Miami Hurricanes. With Malik Rosier as the new starting quarterback for the Canes and some new faces playing big roles, this game will serve as a showcase for Miami and an opportunity to learn more about themselves. Obviously, Miami fans should be rooting for the Hurricanes against Bethune-Cookman.

Youngstown State at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM (ACC Network)

The Canes travel to Pittsburgh on November 24 (a Friday game the day after Thanksgiving). With the Panthers expected to have an up and down season, rooting for Pitt in this game is pretty obvious. Similarly, to what I mentioned earlier, Miami wants Pittsburgh to add wins to its record and make a potential Hurricanes’ victory more substantial later in the season.

NC State vs. South Carolina, 3:00 PM (ESPN)

A very intriguing ACC vs. SEC matchup week one. NC State has similar hype around its defense as Miami compared to the Gamecocks have a high power offense. Former Florida head coach Will Muschamp takes the reins in Columbia adding extra incentive for Canes’ fans. With the Wolfpack as a dark horse in the Atlantic, Hurricanes’ fans should root for NC State as a victory will continue to build up the pedigree of the ACC, and add more strength into that Atlantic race.

William & Mary at Virginia, 3:30 PM (ACC Network)

Mark Richt and his squad host Virginia on November 18. For similar reasons to UNC and Pitt, Miami should be rooting on Virginia in this contest. In a game that should be pretty lopsided, the Hurricanes can add some footage to the tape on UVA.

North Carolina Central at Duke, 6:00 PM (ACC Network)

The Hurricanes visit Duke later this month (September 29) on a Friday night ACC Coastal showdown under the lights. Just the same that it has been with any team Miami has on the schedule this season, Canes’ fans should be rooting on the Blue Devils. Duke is a dark horse in the Coastal if Miami or Virginia Tech do not follow suit. It is not a game on the hardwood, but look for Duke to dominate.

#16 Louisville vs. Purdue, 7:30 PM (FOX)

Heisman winner Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals travel up to Indy to square off against the Boilermakers. Although Miami is not scheduled to see Louisville this season, it is in the Hurricanes’ best interest if the Cards can compete in the Atlantic with Florida State and Clemson. The Canes could also conceivably face Louisville in the ACC Championship game. Miami fans should be rooting on the Cardinals to open up the season with a victory in this ACC/Big Ten showdown.

#3 Florida State vs. #1 Alabama, 8:00 PM (ABC)

The game the entire country will be watching. A consensus dislike for Alabama stretches across the nation, but Hurricanes’ fans despise Florida State. However, a win for the Noles might be beneficial for Miami. The Canes and FSU brawl on September 16 in Tallahassee. A victory for Florida State this week would only bolster their standing in the college football world and make a Miami win in a few weeks count even more (or a loss count a little bit less). I don’t think any Hurricanes’ fan every thought they’d say this, but Miami fans should casually be rooting on FSU this weekend. And if the Noles lose, Canes fans can enjoy their usual twitter banter (so really it is a win-win situation).

Sunday, September 3rd

#22 West Virginia vs. #21 Virginia Tech, 7:30 PM (ABC)

The last game West Virginia played they lost to the Hurricanes in the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl. Now, the Mountaineers will face another ACC Coastal team. Sticking with similar themes from before, Miami hosts Virginia Tech on November 4. In a non-conference matchup, Canes’ fans should cheer on Virginia Tech that way the Hokies will be a stronger team résumé wise when playing the Hurricanes.

Monday, September 4th

#25 Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech, 8:00 PM (ESPN)

No much more you could ask for in life than college football on a Monday night. With the Canes meeting up with the Yellow Jackets on Thursday, October 12 at Hard Rock Stadium it is in Miami fans’ best interest to cheer on GT here. For the exact same reasons with Syracuse, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia and Duke this week. Especially with the speedy option Georgia Tech employs on offensive, can’t hurt to have some good game film on tape for Miami.

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There is your rooting guide for the week. Very rare will it be in a Canes’ fans best interest to have all ACC teams come out on top. Plenty of games to allow Richt and his staff to stack up some film. Enjoy college football!