The Atlantic Coast Conference is following the lead of the SEC in moving toward a nine-game league schedule.
While the ACC did not announce when the league will shift from an eight-game schedule to nine, a source told the Osceola that most league schools will shift to nine games beginning in 2026 (the same year as the SEC).
“This is the right thing for us to do as a conference,” FSU athletics director Michael Alford told the Osceola. “We’ve always advocated for our own competitive strength in football, and this is an important part of enabling our league to do that as well. It enhances the value of strong scheduling and makes the ACC one of only two leagues to annually require teams to play at least 10 P4 games.
“Commissioner Phillips and our conference partners are being strategic and intentional about this and we’re very pleased with that.”
If FSU immediately shifts to nine ACC games next season, the Seminoles would finish out the schedule with Alabama, Florida and Notre Dame. FSU administrators would then need to cancel the matchup with FCS Central Arkansas, which is coach Mike Norvell’s alma mater.
The ACC announced the decision on Monday after a day of meetings with the league’s athletics directors in Charlotte, N.C., and said they “overwhelmingly supported” nine conference games and at least 10 games each year against Power 4 opponents.
“We have been incredibly intentional throughout our discussions on ACC Football, including the future of our conference schedule,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips announced in an email. “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 4 opponents. 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.”
An ACC spokesperson declined to clarify how many athletics directors voted in favor of the nine-game schedule.
The ACC has 17 football members, not counting Notre Dame, and it’s anticipated the majority of the league’s schools will be playing nine league games in 2026. By 2027, the ACC will have 16 teams playing nine league games and one will play eight as a result of the odd number of schools playing football.
Games against Notre Dame will count toward the minimum number of 10 games vs. Power 4 conferences.
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