Future ACC scheduling… more conference games?

ACC athletic directors will meet on Monday to discuss changing the conference football scheduling model from the current eight-game format to a nine or ten game format with a minimum of one additional Power Four game.

It won’t be easy.

“9+1 Option:

First, with seventeen football playing schools, it is impossible to schedule every school with nine conference games plus one additional Power Four game.

Second, there is concern about the impact on non-conference scheduling. Schools like Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Louisville must play an annual rivalry game against an instate school (i.e. South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky). However, this model may restrict schools from scheduling marquee matchup games like the Clemson-LSU game this year. With a nine game conference schedule + the traditional rivalry game against South Carolina, there would not be room for that LSU marquee game.

“8+2” Option:

A second option is to go to a “8+2” scheduling model. This option would continue the current eight conference game model but require two additional Power Four games each year. This option would emphasize strength of schedule.

EDITOR’S Option:

Of course, a third option, not scheduled for discussion, is for Notre Dame to become a full conference member, making the ACC eighteen football playing schools. But that’s not going to happen.

Decision?

When will a decision be made? Good question because if there is no decision by November, there won’t be a schedule change in 2026.

BOTTOM LINE:

Either option will impact Miami’s ability to schedule potential “marquee” matchups in the future. Of more concern, will the Group of 5 schools be negatively impacted?

GO CANES!