The ACC is taking another big step forward in reshaping its football future. On Tuesday, the conference officially released its 2026 football opponents for all 17 teams, marking a major moment in the league’s transition to a nine-game conference schedule and a minimum of 10 games per year against Power Four opponents.
This isn’t just about adding another conference game - it’s part of a broader, intentional shift that aligns the ACC with the rest of the Power Four landscape. Commissioner Jim Phillips called it a “significant and intentional step forward,” and he’s not wrong. The move provides more consistency for players and coaches, better matchups for fans, and a stronger competitive framework across the board.
Let’s break down what this means, how the transition will work, and what fans can expect from the 2026 season.
A Nine-Game ACC Slate: What’s Changing
Back in September, ACC athletic directors gave a strong vote of confidence to a new scheduling model - one that includes nine conference games and at least 10 Power Four opponents each season. That model has now been officially adopted and is set to begin in 2026.
The 2026 season will serve as a transition year. Twelve teams will play nine ACC games and at least one Power Four non-conference opponent (a 9+1 model), while five teams will play eight ACC games and at least two Power Four non-conference games (8+2). This approach allows the league to honor existing non-conference contracts while easing into the new structure.
Starting in 2027, 16 of the 17 teams will play nine ACC games annually. One team each season will rotate into an eight-game ACC schedule to help balance the Power Four requirement and scheduling logistics.
Why It Matters
The ACC’s move to a nine-game conference schedule isn’t just about keeping up with the Joneses. It’s about elevating the product on the field. More conference games mean more meaningful matchups, more rivalries renewed, and fewer weekends with lopsided non-conference games.
It also ensures every team is playing a minimum of 10 Power Four opponents each year, which is critical in today’s college football landscape - especially with the expanded College Football Playoff format on the horizon. Strength of schedule matters more than ever, and this move positions ACC teams to compete on equal footing with their peers in the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12.
The 17-Team Puzzle: Balancing Competition Across the Board
Scheduling in a 17-team league is no small feat. Not every team can play nine ACC games every season without creating imbalance, so the ACC built in flexibility. The rotational model ensures that over the course of multiple seasons, teams will face a fair mix of opponents - both home and away - while still hitting that Power Four minimum.
The conference will also unveil an updated tiebreaker policy before the 2026 season to account for the new format. That’ll be key in a league where not every team plays the same slate and where postseason spots could come down to head-to-heads and common opponents.
Who’s Playing Who in 2026
Here’s a look at the 2026 ACC matchups, broken down by teams playing nine conference games and those sticking with eight for the transition year.
Teams Playing Nine ACC Games 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
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, 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 Playing Eight ACC Games 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
Looking Ahead
The full 2026 ACC football schedule - including game dates - will be released in late January. That’s when fans will be able to circle the calendar for the biggest matchups and start planning road trips.
But even now, it’s clear the ACC is laying the groundwork for a more competitive, more exciting future. The move to nine conference games, the emphasis on Power Four opponents, and the balancing act of a 17-team league all point to a conference that’s evolving - and doing so with purpose.
For players, coaches, and fans alike, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year. And if the matchups on paper are any indication, we’re in for one heck of a season.