Pete Thamel unpacks key factors in ACC scheduling decision, role of Notre Dame

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the ACC is debating between eight or nine conference games in the schedule for teams moving forward. With whatever decision they go with, it could affect how many total Power Four games are played for each team’s schedule. Not only that, Notre Dame is involved, of course.

“Sources: There’s ACC scheduling debate that’s unfolding: Does the ACC pivot to 9 league games and an additional mandated game against a power conference school,” Thamel wrote on Twitter/X. “Or, does the league stick with 8 league games and a mandate of two games out-of-conference games against power schools. Obviously there’s four ACC teams with a traditional in-state rivalry games. A complicating factor here is the Notre Dame agreement, which has ND playing five ACC games every year. Those aren’t league games.”

Thamel went onto explain that the ACC has some serious math problems to deal with too. Can anyone remember algebra? Calculus maybe?

“Those teams with the in-state game would then be playing 11 power games in the years they play Notre Dame,” Thamel wrote. “That’d be an exceedingly rare scheduling move, but it does happen occasionally. (There’s also wonky math on a nine-game schedule in a 17-team league.). Per sources, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips has been vocal within the room about playing 10 power conference games each season, which is not uniform among all leagues.”

As far as when the ACC could come to a decision regarding the schedule and Notre Dame’s role, that remains to be seen. But, Thamel reported more information could come out later this month as the season unfolds.

“There’s an in-person meeting in late September for the ACC to further discuss the options,” Thamel wrote. “Phillips called the meeting, which was not previously scheduled, and sources indicate there’s hope for direction then or soon after. There is also a wait-and-see option to see how things play out this season with the league’s new viewership revenue distribution model.”

This is all well and good at some point right? Another wrench in the plan could be realignment though. On3’s own Brett McMurphy reported North Carolina and Virginia were “attractive” to the SEC and Big Ten. So go figure out that equation in that scenario!