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ACC Announces 10-Game League Schedule Including Notre Dame; Pitt to Visit Clemson

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The Atlantic Coast Conference announced that it will further delay the start of fall sports to Sept. 7 and plans to play all sports with a modified schedule for 2020, including changing the football schedule to 10 conference games and one non-conference game.

The decision follows the earlier changes to conference-only schedules by the Big Ten and Pac-12 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has threatened to cancel the football season altogether. The 10 and one model allows ACC teams with traditional rivalries with out-of-conference teams to maintain them.

“Today’s decision was made after months of thoughtful planning by numerous individuals throughout the conference,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a press release. “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.”

Each ACC football team will have five home and five road games out of the 15 conference teams, with Notre Dame included for the 2020 season only. The Atlantic and Coastal Divisions will be set aside, with the 2020 ACC Championship Game being contested between the two teams with the highest winning percentages.

For Pitt, that means the Panthers will host Louisville, NC State, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Virginia Tech while visiting Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Miami.

Pitt had previously been scheduled to face Duke, Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Virginia Tech at Heinz Field in league play while traveling to Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia.

So Pitt will lose Duke, North Carolina and Virginia from its schedule, add Boston College, Clemson, Louisville and NC State and have Notre Dame become a conference game.

The Panthers have not announced which non-conference game they will play. Pitt had previously scheduled contests against Notre Dame, Richmond, which has cancelled its season, at Marshall and at home against Miami University (Ohio).

Notre Dame will be eligible to play in the ACC Championship Game and will be a full part of the ACC’s bowl selection process. The Irish will be sharing their television revenue from its separate television contract with NBC with the rest of the conference.

A schedule for the re-worked 2020 has not yet been released. The start of football play is set to begin no earlier than Monday, Sept. 7. The first Saturday eligible to be played will be Sept. 12.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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Jonathan
Jonathan
4 years ago

This schedule is tough 😑

Let's Believe
Let's Believe
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

Had faith in this team before this schedule and still have faith now. Somehow the ACC gave us Clemson and took away closer schools in Virginia, Duke, Unc. But somehow they want us to believe they are not trying to set up a ND vs Clemson title game. Then look at Mack Browns schedule, that guy is something else, gets what he wants. Regardless, I love our team as a whole this year and Pitt is going to shock people whether the ACC wants it or not. Let’s get it Defense!

Rob
Rob
4 years ago
Reply to  Let's Believe

It is quite unbelievable how easy UNC’s schedule is. How is it that all the Carolina schools avoid Clemson?

PittScript
PittScript
4 years ago

Wow… what a schedule… awesome for the fans… tough as crap to play…. but hey, then its time for Pitt to put on its Big Boy Power 5 pants and get on with it. Prediction: This right here is how the ACC will look in 2021 and beyond… they can use coronavirus as an excuse to break out of the past… I am sure Florida State and Clemson would be happy to be no longer stuck in a death match with each other every year for 1 slot in the Championship game. Notre Dame comes into the fold and now… Read more »

Kevin
Kevin
4 years ago

We finally have the team to compete with the big boys, and now we have a schedule to see if we are for real! Put up or shut up! I love it and here’s to winning the ACC!

Justin Dietrich
Justin Dietrich
4 years ago
Reply to  Kevin

we still don’t have a QB… 10 TD Kenny ain’t gonna get it done.

Frank James
Frank James
4 years ago

6 wins at most (defense better hold teams to under 10 a game if more wins are going to happen)

Justin Dietrich
Justin Dietrich
4 years ago
Reply to  Frank James

Agree 100% unless Pickett finds a cure for his end zone allergy.

Justin Dietrich
Justin Dietrich
4 years ago

This is an absolute joke. ND should have been forced to join the conference permanently or sit out this season. If the ACC is good enough for them now, it’s good enough for them moving forward.

 
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