ACC Leaning Toward 10-Plus-One Schedule, Delayed Start

Although the ACC is considering several possibile schedule scenarios for the 2020 season, a reports suggests that a plan for 10 conference games along with a "plus one"nonconference contest is emerging as the favorite

ACC commissioner John Swofford is scheduled to meet with the conference's 15 university presidents on Wednesday to discuss scheduling scenarios for the upcoming 2020 football season.

Although several plans will be on the table, including a radical home-and-home pod system, published reports by Pete Thamel of Yahoo! Sports and Brett McMurpy of Stadium Network suggest that the favored model is one that includes 10 conference games in addition to a "plus one" nonconference opponent.

Sources: The ACC is discussing scheduling models, with 10 league games and a "plus one" outside the conference as the favorite. The ACC start date is still being debated between September 12, 19 and 26.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 24, 2020

The 10-plus-1 model would allow ACC members Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Louisville to play their end-of-season rivaly games against SEC opponents, provided the SEC also adopts a similar plan.

It could potentially allow NC State to keep its scheduled home game against the SEC's Mississippi State.

There is also growing speculation that the start of the season will be pushed back to mid-September.

According to McMurphy's report, Notre Dame would play 10 ACC teams under the 10-plus-1 plan, with the results counting in the league standings. The Irish is currently scheduled to play six conference teams in 2020.

ACC’s top scheduling model is 10 league games plus 1 nonconference foe, sources told @Stadium. In this format if Notre Dame plays 10 ACC teams, results would count in ACC standings, sources said. Unknown if ND could earn ACC’s Orange Bowl bid. This needs ACC presidential approval

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 24, 2020

Swofford has repeatedly said he wants to include the Irish in any scheduling scenario if possible.

So what does all this mean for NC State?

For starters, it's almost a certainty that the Wolfpack's season opener at Louisville won't be played on Wednesday, Sept. 2 as scheduled. It's also a safe bet that other than the Mississippi State game, the rest of the nonconference schedule will be wiped out.

The ACC schedule would also have to be restructured to add two extra conference games and cut down on travel.

At this point virtually everything is still on the table.

Given recent trends in the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in states located in the ACC's georgraphic footprint, the situation will continue to be fluid right up until -- or if -- the first game is played. 

The ACC is one of three Power Five conferences that has yet to determine its plans for the upcoming season amid the continuing coronavirus crisis. The Big Ten and Pac-12 have already announced that they will play conference-only schedules.

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