Sources: ACC closing in on new schedule format

The ACC is closing successful connected a alteration to its scheduling format that volition necessitate each league teams to play astatine slightest 10 games against Power Four competition, though the fig of intra-conference games played -- 8 oregon 9 -- remains a sticking point, according to aggregate sources.

Athletics directors are scheduled to conscionable Monday successful Charlotte to sermon the details of what volition either beryllium a determination to a nine-game league slate with 1 further Power Four crippled required retired of league oregon an "8+2" exemplary that would supply much flexibility to schools who already person an yearly non-conference rival.

"The ACC committing to spell to 10 Power Four games is simply a large measurement forward," Clemson athletics manager Graham Neff said. "It's indicative of wherever assemblage shot is and leans into emphasizing the value of spot of docket and much Power Four matchups."

Neff is among the fistful of ADs acrophobic that a nine-game league slate would beryllium problematic successful limiting schools' quality to play marquee non-conference games, arsenic Clemson did this play against LSU successful Week 1.

The Tigers play South Carolina annually and, opening successful 2027, volition besides person a yearly crippled against Notre Dame.

A straw canvass of 13 of the ACC's 17 athletics directors showed 9 supported oregon were amenable to the nine-game slate, portion Clemson and Florida State are among the others with concerns astir the interaction connected non-conference scheduling.

The SEC announced past month it would determination from an eight-game to a nine-game league slate -- a determination that has spurred the ACC's involvement successful adjusting its scheduling model, too.

Multiple sources said ACC commissioner Jim Phillips wants to spot the league play 9 league games annually positive necessitate each schoolhouse to docket 1 out-of-conference crippled against different Power Four school, fundamentally matching the SEC's caller strategy. ACC schools are already expected to person astatine slightest 1 Power Four non-conference crippled each year, but that regularisation has not been enforced and respective programs person avoided playing a much hard schedule. Sources told ESPN that the existent conversations person reached a statement that 10 Power Four games indispensable beryllium an enforced minimum moving forward.

One head said it felt inevitable the league was going to spell to 9 league games. Duke manager Manny Diaz agreed.

"I deliberation it'd beryllium awfully unusual to beryllium the lone league not astatine 9 league games," Diaz said. "Usually erstwhile you're the lone 1 doing something, it's either truly bully oregon truly bad. It conscionable feels similar you'd privation continuity successful what everybody does successful assemblage sports."

The SEC's determination coincided with the College Football Playoff committee's revised guidelines that stress spot of opponent. SEC schools are besides expected to spot an summation successful gross from its TV partner, ESPN, for adding the further league game.

ACC ADs were briefed connected the assorted plans during a telephone Wednesday, though respective said determination remains small knowing of however imaginable changes would beryllium accepted by ESPN oregon considered among the College Football Playoff committee. Indeed, arsenic Radakovich noted, the perfect look for a 12-team playoff vs. an expanded playoff mightiness not beryllium the same, but the ACC volition request to determine its scheduling destiny earlier knowing what the aboriginal playoff mightiness look like.

"Hopefully Jim [Phillips] volition springiness america immoderate penetration into that erstwhile we get unneurotic Monday, and assistance acceptable the array that, hey, 9 is going to beryllium truly important for america to support a precise bully spot astatine the array arsenic it relates to the different CFP commissioners and the Power 4 conferences," Miami athletics manager Dan Radakovich said. "It each depends connected however large the CFP gets. That's different driving origin we won't know. We're going to person to marque this determination without that cognition and effort to task it the champion mode we can."

No further revenues are expected to travel from ESPN if a alteration is made. The ACC besides changed its revenue-di...