The Power Four conferences in college football are moving in unison.
Following the SEC’s August decision to follow in the footsteps of the Big Ten and Big 12 to play a nine-game conference schedule, the ACC announced it was doing the same on Monday, Sept. 22. The conference will move from an eight-game schedule to nine, though the conference’s news release did not indicate when the schedule change would happen.
The change comes just over a month after the CFP selection committee announced it would change its metrics to reward teams for defeating high-quality opponents without penalizing them as heavily for losing said games.
Here’s what you need to know about the ACC’s new scheduling format:
When is ACC moving to nine-game schedule?
The ACC will move to a nine-game schedule, though the start date was not available at the time of publish. From ACC commissioner Jim Phillips:
‘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 their respective programs.’
The ACC’s jump to a nine-game conference schedule had more logistical hurdles, considering it is mathematically impossible for a 17-team league to play a nine-game conference schedule. The inclusion of Notre Dame football for the conference’s ACC record — the Fighting Irish already had an agreement to play five ACC teams per season — made it possible for the conference to move to a nine-game schedule.
Like the SEC, the ACC started playing an eight-game conference schedule in the 1992 season. The addition of independent Florida State necessitated a change in the formatting of the schedule.
ACC statement on conference scheduling
“We have been incredibly intentional throughout our discussions on ACC football, including the future of our conference schedule. Today, the athletic directors of the 17 football-playing institutions overwhelmingly supported a regular season schedule that includes nine conference games and a minimum of 10 games each year against Power Four opponents,’ Phillips said. ‘This positions the ACC as one of only two leagues committed to having every team annually play a minimum of 10 games against Power Four 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 their respective programs.
‘As specified in the conference constitution, the model will be presented to the Faculty Athletics Representatives for formal adoption.”