Report: ACC Football likely to move to conference only schedule

ACC Football is set to follow in the steps of the Big Ten and announce they will only play conference games

There was another twist in the fate of the 2020 college football season on Thursday when the Big Ten Conference announced they planned to play conference games only this Fall. Now, with that announcement many expect ACC Football to look the same.

Minutes after the report of the Big Ten going to the conference only schedule was released, Stadium’s College Football insider Brett McMurphy reported that the PAC-12 and Atlantic Coast Conference were expected to follow the same process.

Here is what McMurphy tweeted on Thursday afternoon:

With the COVID-19 pandemic still not under control and cases rising across the United States, the future of college sports in the Fall are still in jeopardy. The ACC announced Thursday morning that Olympic sports would start at the earliest September 1st and that’s with a best-case scenario.

Football isn’t an Olympic sport but is a big revenue cash cow for programs. Losing that money would put a lot of stress on Universities this Fall.

In terms of an ACC only schedule for teams, it’s significant for the Tar Heels. UNC was set to open their season in Florida against UCF and then a week later play a neutral site game in Atlanta against Auburn. Both opponents were expected to be ranked to start the year, as was UNC.

However, a conference only schedule may help the Tar Heels in the long run in their goal of reaching the ACC Championship Game. We have no idea who will be added to UNC’s schedule or how the College Football Playoff would work but this is very impactful.

For more on the UNC Football program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.