The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has revealed that its men’s basketball teams will play an 18-game conference schedule starting with the 2025-26 season. This marks a return to the 18-game format, which the conference last used between the 2012-13 and 2018-19 seasons, after having implemented a 20-game schedule since 2019-20.
The move comes following a comprehensive strategic review, during which the ACC consulted with athletics directors, coaches, external experts, and television partners. The conference performed statistical analysis to evaluate its basketball product, key metrics, and the impact of scheduling on the league’s performance.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D., explained the decision, stating, “This move to an 18-game schedule is part of our ongoing strategic assessment. It gives our schools a better balance between conference and non-conference games and more flexibility in scheduling. It also reflects our commitment to ensuring the long-term success of ACC Men’s Basketball.”
As part of its broader strategy to improve the sport, the ACC has focused on various aspects, including enhanced marketing and branding efforts. The conference has worked closely with its member institutions and expanded coverage through the ACC Network to highlight players, coaches, and teams. Starting in the 2025-26 season, viewership incentives will also be introduced, complementing the success incentives launched this past season, which financially reward teams for their investments and achievements in basketball.
The 18-game schedule will kick off in late December and conclude on the first Saturday of March. Each team will face one primary partner at home and away, as well as one variable partner, which will rotate each season. Teams will also play one home or away game against 14 of the remaining 15 teams.
The primary partner matchups are as follows:
- Boston College vs. Notre Dame
- Clemson vs. Georgia Tech
- California vs. Stanford
- Duke vs. North Carolina
- Florida State vs. Miami
- Louisville vs. SMU
- NC State vs. Wake Forest
- Pitt vs. Syracuse
- Virginia Tech vs. Virginia
The full breakdown of opponents and conference schedules for the 2025-26 season will be announced at a later date.
After the regular season, the 2026 T. Rowe Price ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament will take place from Tuesday, March 10, to Saturday, March 14, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. This will be the 73rd edition of the tournament, with Charlotte hosting for the 15th time.
The ACC has a strong track record in the NCAA Tournament, with five teams reaching the Final Four in the last four seasons, the most of any conference. In total, the ACC has won three of the last 10 NCAA Championships, with teams like Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia taking home titles in 2015, 2017, and 2019, respectively. Since 2015, the ACC leads all conferences in Final Four appearances and NCAA Tournament wins.
With 15 NCAA national championships overall, ACC teams have been dominant in the tournament, with eight of the last 24 NCAA crowns belonging to current ACC programs.
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