ACC Announces 2026 League Opponents as Move to Nine-Game Conference Schedule Begins
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) - The Atlantic Coast Conference unveiled its 2026 football league opponents for all 17 teams on Tuesday, marking an exciting milestone as the league furthers its transition to a nine-game conference schedule and a minimum of 10 games each year against Power Four opponents.
“Today’s announcement of our 2026 football league opponents is another significant and intentional step forward for ACC Football,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “Transitioning to a nine-game conference schedule strengthens our competitive framework, aligns us with the other Power Four conferences and provides greater consistency for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. This phased approach reflects our commitment to competitive equity, scheduling flexibility and delivering a premier football product across all 17 institutions.”
The move to a nine-game league slate was previously announced on September 22, when the athletic directors from all 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 Four opponents. As specified in the Conference constitution, the model was then formally adopted by the Faculty Athletics Representatives.
Beginning in 2026, the ACC will introduce the new schedule structure through a transitional season designed to balance competitive equity, honor existing non-conference game contracts and account for the league’s unique 17-team footprint. Twelve teams will play a 9+1 schedule (nine ACC games plus at least one Power Four non-conference opponent) while five teams will play an 8+2 schedule (eight ACC games paired with at least two Power Four non-conference matchups).
The ACC Tiebreaker Policy will be updated and announced ahead of the 2026 season.
Starting in 2027, 16 teams will play a nine-game ACC schedule annually, with one team each season playing eight league games and scheduling two Power Four opponents outside the conference to accommodate the 10 Power Four games requirement.
Below are key points regarding the transition and scheduling model:
Transition Year (2026)
- Serves as the bridge between the previous eight-game ACC slate and the new nine-game structure.
- Twelve teams will play nine ACC games, while five will play eight ACC games due to contractual obligations and scheduling balance.
Power Four Focus
- Each program must play a minimum of 10 Power Four opponents annually (9 ACC + 1 non-conference Power Four or 8 ACC + 2 non-conference Power Four).
- Aligns the ACC with all other Power Four conferences.
17-Team Scheduling Model
- With 17 football-playing members, rotating opponents ensures competitive balance over multi-year cycles.
- Not every team can play nine ACC opponents every season.
Comprehensive coverage and in-depth analysis of the ACC’s 2026 football league opponents will be featured on ACC PM on Tuesday, December 16, at 5 p.m. ET, with further insights on the ACC Network Football Podcast on Wednesday, December 17, at 4 p.m. ET on ACC Network - and streaming on various platforms (Apple, Spotify, etc.).
The ACC will unveil the full 2026 football schedule, including all game dates, in late January. Fans can look forward to a season full of exciting matchups across the league.
Teams with a Nine-Game ACC slate in 2026:
California
- Home: Clemson, Pitt, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
- Away: NC State, SMU, Syracuse, Virginia
Duke
- Home: Boston College, Clemson, North Carolina, Stanford
- Away: Georgia Tech, Miami, NC State, Virginia, Wake Forest
Louisville
- Home: Florida State, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Wake Forest
- Away: Georgia Tech, North Carolina, NC State, Syracuse
Miami
- Home: Boston College, Duke, Florida State, Pitt, Virginia Tech
- Away: Clemson, North Carolina, Stanford, Wake Forest
NC State
- Home: California, Duke, Louisville, Syracuse, Wake Forest
- Away: Florida State, North Carolina, Stanford, Virginia (College Football Brasil)
Pitt
- Home: Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Syracuse
- Away: Boston College, California, Louisville, Miami, Virginia Tech
SMU
- Home: Boston College, California, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
- Away: Florida State, Louisville, Stanford, Syracuse
Stanford
- Home: Georgia Tech, Miami, NC State, SMU
- Away: California, Duke, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Syracuse
- Home: California, Clemson, Louisville, SMU
- Away: Boston College, North Carolina, NC State, Pitt, Virginia
Virginia
- Home: California, Duke, North Carolina, NC State (College Football Brasil), Syracuse
- Away: Florida State, SMU, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Virginia Tech
- Home: Georgia Tech, Pitt, Stanford, Virginia
- Away: Boston College, California, Clemson, Miami, SMU
Wake Forest
- Home: Duke, Miami, Stanford, Virginia
- Away: California, Georgia Tech, Louisville, NC State, SMU
Teams with an Eight-Game ACC schedule in 2026:
Boston College
- Home: Florida State, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia Tech
- Away: Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, SMU
Clemson
- Home: Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia Tech
- Away: California, Duke, Florida State, Syracuse
Florida State
- Home: Clemson, NC State, SMU, Virginia
- Away: Boston College, Louisville, Miami, Pitt
Georgia Tech
- Home: Boston College, Duke, Louisville, Wake Forest
- Away: Clemson, Pitt, Stanford, Virginia Tech
North Carolina
- Home: Louisville, Miami, NC State, Syracuse
- Away: Clemson, Duke, Pitt, Virginia
