ACC announces '26 9-game conference schedule

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced on Tuesday its new modified 9-game conference schedule for 2026.

In September, the ACC voted to move from its current eight-game conference schedule to mirror similar moves by the SEC and Big Ten.

Odd Number of ACC Schools...

The challenge for the ACC is that the conference has an odd number of schools competing in football. Therefore, scheduling a nine-game scheduled is a challenge. The 2026 conference schedule will be a “transition” schedule for the conference. Twelve of its seventeen schools will play nine conference games in 2026, with Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, North Carolina and Boston College playing just eight conference games. Starting in 2027, one school will play only eight league games each season.

Why such complexity?

Simple, Notre Dame, a conference member in all sports but football has a scheduling agreement with the ACC to play five games a year against ACC schools. Its been long hoped the Irish would become a full member and the eighteen football-playing school in the ACC. That does not appear to be happening in the near future due to Notre Dame’s long-standing desire to remain independent in football and their angst over the perceived non-support by the ACC during this season’s CFP selection process this season.

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For Miami, it will play a nine-game conference schedule that includes home games against Boston College, Duke, Florida State, Pitt, and Virginia Tech. The Canes will go on the road to Clemson, North Carolina, Stanford and Wake Forest. Dates will be announced at a later date.

BOTTOM LINE:

The ACC chaos continues. Will the ACC expand to 18 football-playing schools in the future?

GO CANES!