After the SEC announced their move 9 conference games, all eyes went to the ACC. Will they also move to 9 games?
There are so many factors in play here. While the ACC has been criticized in the past for its scheduling agreement with Notre Dame in the past, in this case, it’s mutually beneficial to both.
The ACC/SEC rivalries of Florida/FSU, South Carolina/Clemson, Georgia/Georgia Tech, and Kentucky/Louisville have a non-zero chance of going away, but I consider the possibility at this time so low that it’s not even something I’d address.
Notre Dame has their 5-game schedulding agreement with the ACC, plus the multi-year series signed with Clemson.
This has Notre Dame playing 6 ACC Teams in 2025, 5 in 2026, 4 in 2027, 5 in 2028, 6 in 2029, 6 in 2030 with room to add to their schedule every year after 2025. This built-in matchup already makes scheduling easier for the ACC. As pointed out here. I don’t expect the Big 10 and SEC to schedule Notre Dame after September, that could open the opportunity for more ACC Notre Dame matchups.
The problem for ND is most of these A4 OOC games are going to be the first month of the season. As well, getting 10 A4 games a year is going to difficult as an independent.
— James Hanback (@hanback_james) August 22, 2025
The ACC doesn’t have to adopt a 9 + 1 format like the SEC. They can easily go with an 8 + 2 format. Clemson, with their additonal voting power, probably prefers this with games with Notre Dame and South Carolina already on its schedule. Clemson still probably wants the additional flexibility in their OOC as well.
Notre Dame could be added as a 9th conference game as some reports have suggested.
I don’t think there is any way that Notre Dame as part of this agreement, isn’t factored in.
In the end, I believe the ACC will adopt one of two formats.
- The 8+2 format. This will be the cleaner and won’t have the awkward inclusion of Notre Dame as a conference. Clemson, with their additional voting power, won’t have to change anything in their future scheduling. Neither will FSU, Louisville or Georgia Tech in years Notre Dame is on their schedule. Remember, if another P4 or Notre Dame can’t be scheduled, ACC teams can schedule each other and not have it part of the ACC record. Virginia and NC State are already doing this in 2025 and 2026.
- The 9+1 format with Notre Dame included. This just seems too messy to me to count this as a conference game, but it has to be considered.
- The ACC can stay at 8 conference games, and you can schedule who you want. I don’t see this happening. With the SOS component factored in more than ever. ACC teans in playoff contention can’t have another data point where the SEC and Big 10 would be clearly ahead.
- The ACC adds a 9th conference game, and the Notre Dame game has no effect. I don’t see this with 17 teams. The math doesn’t work with a team or two playing a different format. Not happening…
The ACC is going to have 10 P4 + Notre Dame opponents, but how it looks will either be the 8+2 or 9+1 with Notre Dame included in the conference record. My preference would be to see the 8+2 model.
