The ACC’s Highest-Paid Coaches Are Struggling to Win Games

The ACC is gearing up to welcome the national spotlight on a huge intraconference game in two weekends—just not the matchup anyone predicted.

On Oct. 4, the ACC’s two highest-paid coaches will square off when Dabo Swinney and Clemson visit Bill Belichick and North Carolina. But with the Tigers (1–3) and Tar Heels (2–2) both underwhelming so far, it will be No. 2 Miami at No. 8 Florida State that draws the most attention. 

On Monday, the ACC released its Week 6 TV schedule, with Miami-FSU drawing the 7:30 p.m. ET primetime slot on ABC, and Clemson-UNC being relegated to the noon ET window on ESPN. 

In July, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions Kurt Dargis told Front Office Sports the network had its “hopes and fingers crossed” that Swinney vs. Belichick would be a big game. Chapel Hill was circled on many people’s lists to potentially host College GameDay (for the first time since 1997) on Oct. 4, but now Tallahassee figures to be a logical choice for the traveling pregame show that weekend.

Clemson was No. 4 in preseason rankings, and hype—everywhere from increased ticket sales to a new Hulu docuseries—was building around UNC. While Miami was ranked No. 10 entering the season, FSU was unranked. 

Since then, the Hurricanes and Seminoles are undefeated, including a huge season-opening win for FSU over Alabama, which resulted in the ACC’s first $50,000 field-storming fine. College GameDay was in Miami this past weekend ahead of the program’s matchup with its other in-state rival, Florida.

Neither the Tigers nor the Tar Heels have notched a win against a Power 4 opponent yet this season, and both are on bye weeks this coming weekend. Swinney is the third-highest-paid coach in the country, with an $11.5 million salary, and Belichick ranks ninth at $10 million.