Sources: ACC eyes 10 Power 4 games in new schedule format

The ACC is closing for changes in its scheduling format, which will require at least 10 games against Power 4 competition, although according to several sources, eight or nine – a sticking point remains.

Athletic directors have been scheduled to meet in Charlotte on Monday, to discuss what will be a step for either either the conference with an additional power 4 game either what will be a step for either a nine-game conference slate or the “8+2” model that will provide more flexibility to the schools that are already an annual non-compatible rival.

“ACC is a big step to go to 10 Power 4 Games, Clamson Athletic Director Graham Naf. “This is an indication of where the college is football and the strength of the schedule and more power 4 matches are bowed to emphasize the importance of 4 matches.”

Nef is one of a handful of advertisements that the nine-game conference slate would be problematic in limiting the capacity of schools to play Marki Nonconference Games as Claymson did this season against LSU in week 1.

Tigers play South Carolina annually and will also have an annual game against Notre Dame, starting in 2027.

A straw of 13 of the 17 athletic directors of the ACC was nine-supported or responsible for nine-supported nine-game slates, while Claimson and Florida states are among others with concerns about the impact on non-radicals.

Second Announced last month This will run from eight-market to nine-game conference slate-a decision that has also promoted ACC’s interest in adjusting its scheduleing model.

Several sources said that the ACC Commissioner wants to see the Jim Philips Conference playing nine league games annually and each school needs to schedule an out-of-conference game against another Power 4 school, which is essentially matched to the new strategy of SEC. ACC schools are already considered to be at least one power 4 nonconference game each year, but that rule has not been implemented, and many programs have avoided playing more difficult programs. Sources told ESPN that the current conversation has reached a consensus that 10 power 4 games should proceed a minimum minimum.

A administrator said that it seems that the league is going to go to the nine league games. Duke coach Manny Diaz agreed.

“I think this nine conference will not be the only conference in sports,” said Diaz. “Usually, when you are doing only something, it is either really good or really bad. It seems what everyone does in college game.”

SEC’s move coincides with the revised guidelines of the College Football Playoff Committee which emphasizes the strength of the opponent. SEC schools are expected to see an increase in revenue from your TV partner, ESPN to connect additional conference games.

During a call on Wednesday, ACC advertisements were informed on various schemes, although many people said how possible changes would be accepted by ESPN or considered to be between the CFP committee. Actually, as Miami E.

“Hope, gym [Phillips] When we will meet together on Monday and help set the table, we will get some insight, hey, nine is really going to be important for us to keep a very good seat on the table as it is related to other CFP commissioners and power 4 conferences, “said Redkovich.” It all depends on how big the CFP becomes. This is another driving factor that we will not know. We are going to make this decision without that knowledge and can try to tell it the best way. ,

If any change is made, no additional revenue is expected from ESPN. The ACC also changed its revenue-distribution model starting in 2025, with a higher percentage of revenue to schools based on TV ratings.

“It is important that we remain strategic in providing value to our media partner, ESPN,” said Nef. “And how the ACC has customized our financial distribution model, which has school revenue implications contrary to any other conference.”

The ACC has wrestled how many league games should be played for more than a decade. In 2012, the ACC agreed to play nine, but then decided to stay in eight after adding Syrakuse and Pittsburgh and next year to come to a scheduling agreement with Notre Dame. Clamson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Luisville have always been a glued points in one of these discussions, playing the Intrastate Nonconference rivalry against their SEC rivals annually against their SEC rivals.

For those four teams, the game of their rivalry coupled with a nine-game conference slate will provide a complete list of 10 power 4 matches-in more years in which they play notre dame as part of the school league agreement, requiring five games per year against Irish. It leaves very little space for a Marki matchup such as Claimson-LSU or Florida State-Lubama, two games that rating the monster in the week 1 of this season, each has more than 10 million spectators.

But the future marquee can disappear after going to the non -conference matchup such as ACC nine-game conference slate, Nep said, who can reduce the overall product and disrupt revenue opportunities, looking at the new distribution models of ACC, which provides more money to schools with better TV ratings.

Redkovich said that sports such as this week’s performance with Florida is unlikely to move forward due to the obstacles of a large conference program, but said he would continue interacting with Florida’s advertisement Scott Strikin.

“This is going to be a real hard sale because Florida has its nine SEC games and is a game of rivalry with FSU,” said Radkovic. “Scott and I will have some chats to see if it can happen but it’s going to be some tough sledging.”

Louisville’s advertisement Josh Hurd said that his school will still schedule the top nonconference competition, even though it means the 11th Power 4 games. Cardinals have future games against Georgia in 2026 and 2027 and scheduled games against Texas A&M in 2028 and 2029.

“Play good teams,” Hurd said. “We will play Kentaki every year, and we will Dame once every once. And we still want to play home and house with Georgia and Texas A&M. I think the children want to play those games too.”

Many advertisements expressed concern, however, a series such as Louisville with Georgia and Texas A&M would disappear, as SEC exits such a matchup that will now play nine league games. Others suggested SEC and Big Ten – two leagues with the most financial clouts – can work together for non -schedueling scheduling, leaving ACC and Big 12 with some options to fill their slate, especially if ACC needs two power 4 NANCONFERS games.

“You do not guarantee 10,” said an advertisement in favor of a 9+1 model. “This is the issue. Who is to say other power 4 leagues who want to schedule ACC schools?”

An option may be for ACC teams to schedule non -conducive games against each other, as NC State and Virginia did in week 2. Several advertisements expressed doubts about the plan, however, suggesting that fans would be extremely misleading to understand that ACC vs. ACC matches are counted in league standing and which did not.

Regardless, the ACC must find a way around the more basic problem of mathematics. With 17 football playing members, there is no way to play nine conferences for all schools.

An initial plan included sports vs. notre Dame – an ACC member in all sports except football – to count as a conference game. Several advertisements told ESPN that the plan has been given shelter for some time, it is likely to be in favor of an unbalanced model in which at least one team will play only eight conferences, while the remaining nine plays.

The league is expected to be taken closer to the final decision at Monday’s meetings at Charlot, but many sources said they are not expected to have an official vote for a few weeks and so are suspicious that a change will be effective for 2026 season.

“Let’s try to set our syllabus,” Radkovic said. “The discussion will take place on Monday, but the decisions will be expected shortly after. Hopefully, we will come out with a consensus that takes the ACC to the final conclusion.”