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**Summary:**

The ACC athletic directors are meeting Monday to discuss a potential new football scheduling format requiring all teams to play at least 10 games against Power 4 competition. Options being considered include a 9-game conference schedule plus one Power 4 non-conference game (9+1 model) or an 8-game conference schedule plus two Power 4 non-conference games (8+2 model). Clemson is concerned about a 9-game conference schedule due to the potential impact on its ability to schedule high-profile non-conference games, particularly with existing commitments to Notre Dame and annual rivalry game against South Carolina. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips is reportedly in favor of the 9-game conference schedule.

**News Article:**

**ACC Considers Major Football Scheduling Overhaul: Clemson Concerns Emerge**

**CHARLOTTE, NC** – Atlantic Coast Conference athletic directors will convene in Charlotte on Monday to deliberate a significant shift in the conference’s football scheduling format, sources confirmed Friday. The potential overhaul aims to bolster the ACC’s strength of schedule by mandating that all member institutions play a minimum of 10 games against Power 4 opponents.

The discussions center around two primary models: a “9+1” format, consisting of nine conference games and one non-conference game against a Power 4 team, or an “8+2” model, featuring eight conference games and two non-conference Power 4 matchups.

However, the proposed changes are not without their detractors. Clemson University has expressed concerns that a move to a nine-game conference schedule could significantly limit its ability to schedule marquee non-conference games. The Tigers already have long-term commitments to play Notre Dame (as part of the ACC’s scheduling agreement with the Irish) as well as future matchups against LSU, Georgia, and Oklahoma.

“Clemson’s priority is ensuring we can continue to offer our fans exciting non-conference games against top-tier programs,” a source close to Clemson’s athletic department told *The Clemson Insider*. “A nine-game conference schedule could severely restrict our flexibility to schedule those types of contests, especially when factoring in the annual rivalry game with South Carolina.”

Florida State University, with its own established rivalry and non-conference ambitions, is reportedly in a similar position.

While no vote is expected at Monday’s meeting, the discussions are a clear indication that the ACC is seriously considering a move towards a more challenging and competitive football landscape. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips is reportedly in favor of the 9-game conference schedule. The decision to adopt a new scheduling format could have far-reaching implications for the future of ACC football and its members’ ability to compete on the national stage.

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