ACC limits football schedule to 11 games

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday it is limiting its football schedule to 11 games, conference officials said. Notre Dame, meanwhile, will play 10 conference opponents and will be eligible for the ACC title game.

The ACC Board of Directors voted to proceed with the schedule, which will begin the week of Sept. 7-12, ESPN reported. The conference also said in a statement that if public health guidance allows, the other six ACC-sponsored fall sports will also begin play during the week of Sept. 7-12.

The moves were made over health concerns stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

All ACC schools and Notre Dame will play 10 conference games. The schools other than Notre Dame will play a nonconference game of their choosing, the sports network reported. The 11 games will be spread over 13 weeks, with each team having two open dates, the ACC said. There will be one division, and all television revenue will be shared among all 15 schools.

“Today’s decision was made after months of thoughtful planning by numerous individuals throughout the conference,” ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. “The Board’s decision presents a path, if public health guidance allows, to move forward with competition. Our institutions are committed to taking the necessary measures to facilitate the return in a safe and responsible manner. We recognize that we may need to be nimble and make adjustments in the future. We will be as prepared as possible should that need arise.”

The ACC football championship game will be played Dec. 12 or Dec. 19 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. It will feature the top two teams based upon highest conference-game winning percentage, the ACC said.

“As we look ahead to the fall, the safety of our students, staff and overall campus community continues to be our top priority,” Kent Syverud, Chancellor of Syracuse University and the Chair of the ACC Board of Directors, said in a statement. “Today’s announcement outlines a specific path for ACC fall sports to return to intercollegiate athletic competition using comprehensive protocols put forward by our ACC Medical Advisory Group. As a league, we understand the need to stay flexible and be prepared to adjust as medical information evolves in conjunction with local and state health guidelines.”

The ACC’s decision follows similar moves by other Power 5 conferences. The Big Ten announced three weeks ago that it will play a conference-only season for all fall sports, including football. The next day, the Pac-12 announced it would be limiting fall sports to a conference-only schedule because of the pandemic.

Cox Media Group