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David HaleDec 16, 2025, 03:25 PM<\/p>\n
Close<\/a>College football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012.Graduate of the University of Delaware.<\/p>\n The ACC will roll out its new nine-game conference schedule in a modified form for the 2026 football season, the conference announced Tuesday, with a full nine-game slate beginning in 2027.<\/p>\n For the upcoming season, which the ACC is calling a “transition year,” 12 of its 17 schools will play nine conference games, with Clemson<\/a>, Georgia Tech<\/a>, Florida State<\/a>, North Carolina<\/a> and Boston College<\/a> playing just eight. Those five teams each have multiple Power Four opponents already scheduled outside the conference.<\/p>\n Because the ACC has an odd number of teams, one school will play eight league games each season starting in 2027.<\/p>\n Four ACC schools — Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Louisville<\/a> — have an annual rivalry game against the SEC, and while Louisville AD Josh Heird said his school is eager to play a strong schedule each season, the other three initially balked at the lack of scheduling flexibility that would come with a nine-game conference slate and an annual nonconference game against their SEC rival.<\/p>\n Clemson has also scheduled an annual series against Notre Dame<\/a> that starts in 2027, meaning that any year in which the Tigers are slated for nine ACC games, they’d be guaranteed at least 11 games vs. Power Four opponents.<\/p>\n Under the ACC’s new nine-game scheduling plan, which was approved in September<\/a>, each team will be required to play at least 10 games against Power Four competition, meaning one nonconference Power Four game for the schools playing the full nine-game conference slate, and two for any teams playing eight.<\/p>\n The ACC will also adjust its tiebreaker policies for the 2026 season and beyond as a result of the unequal scheduling. The new formula, however, might also address concerns following this year’s five-team tie for second place in the conference that allowed a 7-5 Duke<\/a> team to reach the championship game, which the Blue Devils ultimately won.<\/p>\n This marks the fourth different scheduling format for the ACC in the past four years. In 2022, the ACC agreed to scrap divisions for the 2023 season. In 2024, Cal<\/a>, Stanford<\/a> and SMU<\/a> joined the league, forcing the ACC to adjust its annual rivalry games to fit the expanded roster of schools. The new nine-game league schedule, the ACC said, will allow for increased flexibility in scheduling and allow schools to face off more frequently.<\/p>\n The ACC remains contractually tied with Notre Dame as well, playing five nonconference games per year against the Fighting Irish.<\/p>\n Teams with a nine-game ACC slate in 2026<\/p>\n California<\/p>\n Home: Clemson, Pitt, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest<\/p>\n Away: NC State, SMU, Syracuse, Virginia<\/p>\n Duke<\/p>\n Home: Boston College, Clemson, North Carolina, Stanford<\/p>\n Away: Georgia Tech, Miami, NC State, Virginia, Wake Forest<\/p>\n Louisville<\/p>\n Home: Florida State, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Wake Forest<\/p>\n Away: Georgia Tech, North Carolina, NC State, Syracuse<\/p>\n Miami<\/p>\n Home: Boston College, Duke, Florida State, Pitt, Virginia Tech<\/p>\n Away: Clemson, North Carolina, Stanford, Wake Forest<\/p>\n NC State <\/p>\n Home: California, Duke, Louisville, Syracuse, Wake Forest<\/p>\n Away: Florida State, North Carolina, Stanford, Virginia (in Brazil)<\/p>\n Pitt<\/p>\n Home: Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Syracuse<\/p>\n Away: Boston College, California, Louisville, Miami, Virginia Tech<\/p>\n SMU<\/p>\n Home: Boston College, California, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest<\/p>\n Away: Florida State, Louisville, Stanford, Syracuse<\/p>\n Stanford<\/p>\n Home: Georgia Tech, Miami, NC State, SMU<\/p>\n Away: California, Duke, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest<\/p>\n Syracuse<\/p>\n Home: California, Clemson, Louisville, SMU<\/p>\n Away: Boston College, North Carolina, NC State, Pitt, Virginia<\/p>\n Virginia<\/p>\n Home: California, Duke, North Carolina, NC State (in Brazil), Syracuse<\/p>\n Away: Florida State, SMU, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest<\/p>\n Virginia Tech <\/p>\n Home: Georgia Tech, Pitt, Stanford, Virginia<\/p>\n Away: Boston College, California, Clemson, Miami, SMU<\/p>\n Wake Forest<\/p>\n Home: Duke, Miami, Stanford, Virginia<\/p>\n Away: California, Georgia Tech, Louisville, NC State, SMU<\/p>\n Teams with an eight-game ACC schedule in 2026<\/p>\n Boston College<\/p>\n Home: Florida State, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia Tech<\/p>\n Away: Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, SMU<\/p>\n Clemson<\/p>\n Home: Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia Tech<\/p>\n Away: California, Duke, Florida State, Syracuse<\/p>\n Florida State<\/p>\n Home: Clemson, NC State, SMU, Virginia<\/p>\n Away: Boston College, Louisville, Miami, Pitt<\/p>\n Georgia Tech<\/p>\n Home: Boston College, Duke, Louisville, Wake Forest<\/p>\n Away: Clemson, Pitt, Virginia Tech, Stanford<\/p>\n North Carolina<\/p>\n Home: Louisville, Miami, NC State, Syracuse<\/p>\n Away: Clemson, Duke, Pitt, Virginia<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"David HaleDec 16, 2025, 03:25 PM CloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012.Graduate of the University of Delaware. 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