Inside The Panthers

Pitt Likely to Add Extra ACC Game

With the ACC likely to pass a new conference schedule starting in 2027, it will mean an extra conference game for the Pitt Panthers.
Karl Ludwig|
Sep 6, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back Desmond Reid (0), head coach Pat Narduzzi, defensive back Javon McIntyre (7) and offensive lineman Lyndon Cooper (56) lead the Panthers onto the field to play the Central Michigan Chippewas at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Sep 6, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back Desmond Reid (0), head coach Pat Narduzzi, defensive back Javon McIntyre (7) and offensive lineman Lyndon Cooper (56) lead the Panthers onto the field to play the Central Michigan Chippewas at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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The ACC is likely to make a major change when it comes to future schedules of its member institutions.

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said that the conference's Athletic Director have supported a regular season schedule that will feature 10 Power 4 opponents — including nine conference matchups. The current conference schedule is eight games.

However, as pointed out by ESPN's Andrea Adelson, one ACC team would still play eight games annually due to the number of available opportunities. She also reported that the new model would be fully implemented by 2027.

"We have been incredibly intentional throughout our discussions on ACC Football, including the future of our conference schedule," Phillips said in a statement released by the ACC. "Today, the Athletic Directors of the 17 football-playing institutions overwhelmingly supported a regular season schedule that includes nine conference games and a minimum of 10 games each year against Power 4 opponents. This positions the ACC as one of the two leagues committed to having every team annually play a minimum of 10 Power 4 teams."

"There will be additional discussions and more details to be determined, but today's decision showcases the commitment and leadership of our ADs in balancing what is best for strengthening the conference and their respective programs. As specified in the Conference constitution, the model will be presented to the Faculty Athletics Representatives for formal adoption."

It would be a major move, one that would put the ACC with the Big 12 and SEC, which will require its member schools to play nine conference games and one non-conference game next season. The Big Ten is set to play a nine-game conference schedule, but does not require a 10th Power 4 opponent.

As it stands, Pitt is slated to play 11 Power 4 games next season. But with Ole Miss, Wisconsin and UCF currently on the schedule (and Miami (Oh.)), there could be some additional moves announced.

The non-conference schedule in 2027 currently includes Western Michigan, Wisconsin (in Dublin, Ireland) and UConn. That will have to change when the nine-game schedule is implemented.

The current ACC scheduling pod, which had previously had Pitt playing Boston College, Syracuse and Virginia Tech every season between 2023-26 but was impacted by the addition of Cal, Stanford and SMU, is also set to be replaced in the 2027 season.

The new nine-game conference schedule will be presented to the Faculty Athletics Representatives for formal adoption and additional information will be released then.

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Karl Ludwig
KARL LUDWIG

Karl Ludwig is a Pittsburgh Panthers on SI sportswriter. He has spent the past three years covering the Pitt Panthers for a couple of platforms. While he did not attend Pitt, he grew up in the Pittsburgh area, attending North Allegheny Senior High School and Slippery Rock University. As a student at SRU, he served as the sports editor of SRU’s student-run newspaper, The Rocket, and provided award-winning coverage in football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer. It was at SRU that his love for sports journalism blossomed. Karl spent three seasons as the Pitt football beat writer for Pittsburgh Sports Now, following time as an intern for the Sports Now Network. His most recent coverage of the University was for Pitt Sports News of the On3/Rivals network. He’s also contributed to Athlon Sports and SB Nation’s Behind the Steel Curtain.

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