On Monday, ACC athletic directors met to discuss adjusting football schedules and moving the number of conference games from eight to nine a season. In the end, they voted to make the move, and in the move, beginning in 2026, according to ESPN, part of the agreement was playing 10 power conference games a year, nine ACC games, and one non-conference game.
ACC expands football conference schedule to nine games from eight
This was a necessary move by the conference, given the fact that the other Power 4 conferences made the move, and the SEC and Big 12 are also requiring each team to play 10 Power 4 opponents a year.
"We have been incredibly intentional throughout our discussions on ACC football, including the future of our conference schedule," Phillips said in a statement. "This positions the ACC as one of only two leagues committed to having every team annually play a minimum of 10 games against Power 4 teams. There will be additional discussions and more details to be determined, but today's decision showcases the commitment and leadership of our ADs in balancing what is best for strengthening the conference and for their respective programs."
According to ESPN, the new scheduling model will be presented to the faculty athletics representatives for formal adoption this week, which would create another scheduling model for a conference that desperately needs to keep up with the current times and other conferences.
In terms of schools looking for a 10th power conference opponent, some schools may not have to look further than Notre Dame, which is in the conference for every other sport except football. If the Irish miss the 12-team College Football Playoff, you can bet that there will be internal discussions as to making their schedule matter more compared to conference teams. Or maybe they should just join the ACC for football as well.