ACC Introduces Innovative Football Scheduling Plan: 17 Teams, 16 Protected Matchups, and a Twist for Notre Dame

The ACC has recently unveiled a fresh football scheduling plan for its expansive 17-team league, which now includes new members Cal, Stanford, and SMU. The plan consists of a seven-year model that introduces 16 protected matchups, set to commence in the 2024 season. This model maintains the league’s practice of playing eight conference games without divisions. It ensures that all teams will face each other at least twice within the next seven seasons.

Notably, certain schools have been assigned three protected rivalry games, while others have been assigned two or just one. Eleven of these protected games have been carried over from the current model, while some matchups from the previous divisional format have been revived. Athletic directors and the league collaborated on developing the scheduling model, taking into account their preferences for protected matchups.

The new model also prioritizes geographical factors, aiming to minimize repeated trips to the same region while maximizing opportunities for games against nearby teams. However, the specific dates for the 2024 football schedule will only be announced on January 31, 2024. It is important to note that Notre Dame, which regularly competes against ACC schools in nonconference games, was not included in the schedule release.