ACC Reportedly Considering CFB Schedule Tweak, 9-Conference Game Format Mulled
There is a debate "unfolding" within the ACC regarding whether schools should pivot to nine in-conference games with a mandated tenth game against a Power 4 conference opponent, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Monday.
Each of the teams in the ACC currently plays eight conference games per year. Notre Dame, an independent program, is also contracted to play five ACC games per year.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips called a meeting for late September to discuss scheduling possibilities, Thamel reported. Thamel wrote that "sources indicate there's hope for direction then or soon after."
Thamel noted that the conference could ultimately wait "to see how things play out this season with the league's new viewership revenue distribution model" before making any decisions.
The ACC is adopting a new revenue-sharing model following March's settlement with Florida State and Clemson, in which the conference will pool television revenue and distribute them to programs based on a five-year rolling viewership average, per Sportico's Eben Novy-Williams.
Also as part of the settlement, Clemson and Florida State were reportedly given veto power over decisions made by other schools.
Both programs may need to be on board in order to institute any major scheduling changes, and the Clemson-South Carolina and Florida-Florida State rivalries could make them less inclined to adding another power opponent to their respective schedules.
The SEC announced in August that the conference would begin playing a nine-game conference schedule, plus at least one additional game against a Power 4 opponent or Notre Dame, starting in 2026.
Phillips said at the time that the ACC did not expect to follow suit, ESPN's Heather Dinich reported on Sept. 1.
"I like where we're at with eight games," Phillips said, per Dinich. "We'll adjust if we have to, but I think some of those traditional rivalry games that we really enjoy could go away."
Phillips has also previously spoken about the challenges of expanding to nine conference games with an odd number of programs in the 17-team conference, per On3's Sam Gillenwater.
Future scheduling decisions could be further complicated by ongoing conference realignment, such as a recent report from On3's Brett McMurphy that both Virginia and UNC "will be highly contested" by the SEC and Big Ten.
The ACC has played an eight-game conference schedule since 1992. ACC programs are currently scheduled to play a total of 26 games against power opponents and Notre Dame this season, more than any other Power 4 conference by at least eight games, according to the conference.
