Athletics directors in the Atlantic Coast Conference backed a plan to plan nine league games in football each season and to require schools to play 10 games annually against members of the ACC, Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and Big 12, Commissioner Jim Phillips announced Monday.
The change must be approved by the league’s faculty athletics representatives for formal adoption.
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Some ACC teams will play nine conference games in 2026, while multiple others play eight, according to a source with knowledge of the arrangement. In 2027, 16 of the league’s 17 conference members will play nine league games while one plays eight. All members will play at least 10 P4 opponents in each season.
With 17 football-playing schools it is impossible to schedule nine conference games.
The ACC and the SEC currently play eight league games, while the Big Ten and Big 12 play nine. The SEC is moving to nine conference games in 2026, putting pressure on the ACC to adapt as well.
The ACC and SEC are the only leagues to require 10 P4 opponents.
In a statement, Phillips said the athletics directors “overwhelmingly supported” the move to nine conference games and 10 P4 opponents.
“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,” Phillips said in a statement.
The scheduling debate is complicated by two factors, outside of the math problem. Four southern ACC schools have in-state rivalry games against SEC foes, while Notre Dame plays a rotating slate of ACC opponents. That means some teams could be playing as many as 11 P4 opponents in years when Notre Dame is on the schedule.
“It’d be awfully strange to be the only conference not at nine conference games,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “That’s my thought on that. Usually, when you’re the only one doing something, it’s either really good or really bad. It just feels like you would want continuity in what everybody does in college sports.”
NC State coach Dave Doeren said he prefers a nine-game schedule, but acknowledged that schools with annual SEC rivals are in a different situation.
Said Doeren: “They have a different argument than I do.”
NC State is scheduled to play Vanderbilt (SEC) and ACC foe Virginia in nonconference games in 2026. The league could convert the Virginia game to a conference game, giving both teams nine ACC games.
North Carolina is scheduled to play TCU (Big 12) in Ireland to open the season and Notre Dame in nonconference games next year. With 10 P4 opponents already, the Tar Heels could remain at eight league games.
Duke is scheduled to play at Illinois (Big Ten) as its lone P4 nonconference game in 2026. The Blue Devils would need to drop a game against Tulane, UConn or Williams & Mary to make room for another conference game or P4 opponent to meet the league's new criteria.