The ACC is Close to Requiring Teams to Play 10 Power 4 Football Opponents

According to reports, the ACC is close to requiring teams to play a minimum of 10 Power 4 opponents every year.

This could happen in two different ways.

1) The conference slate remains at 8 games, with each team required to schedule 2 of their 4 non-conference games against Power 4 opponents.

2) The conference slate increases to 9 games, with each team required to schedule 1 of their 3 non-conference games against a Power 4 opponent.

As things currently stand, while the conference has expressed their desire that each school schedule at least 1 non-conference game against a Power 4 opponent, it isn’t mandated. The new proposed rule would change that from recommended to required.

NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren has been vocal on numerous occasions regarding his desire for the ACC slate to increase from 8 to 9 games. In fact, he wouldn’t mind every game being a conference game. Doeren has also been understanding of certain

The SEC recently increased their conference slate from 8-9 games, and according to ESPN, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips wants to follow suit.

According to ESPN, “A straw poll of 13 of the ACC’s 17 athletic directors showed nine supported or were amenable to the nine-game slate, while Clemson and Florida State are among the others with concerns about the impact on non-conference scheduling.”

The ACC Athletic Directors will meet Monday to discuss.