ACC reveals revamped 11-game football schedule; Pitt adds trip to Clemson

If state and health officials allow, there will be football in the ACC this season.

The conference released its reconfigured schedule Wednesday, trimming each team’s original 12-game slate by one, playing 10 ACC opponents and one outside the conference and welcoming Notre Dame as a member for the 2020 season.

Football and six other fall sports are expected to begin competition the week of Sept. 7-12.

The 2020 Football Schedule Model has been announced.

More info: https://t.co/D6iCbHIY1x pic.twitter.com/dfhTqr4YTd

— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) July 29, 2020

Pitt’s new schedule includes a road game against five-time defending ACC champion Clemson.

All ACC football teams will play five home games and five on the road. Pitt’s five opponents at Heinz Field will be Louisville, N.C. State, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Virginia Tech. The Panthers’ road schedule is especially challenging with games at Clemson, Florida State and Miami, plus Boston College and Georgia Tech.

Overall, Pitt lost non-conference opponents Miami (Ohio), Richmond and Marshall, plus Duke, North Carolina and defending ACC Coastal champion Virginia. The Panthers won’t have to face UNC quarterback Sam Howell, a darkhorse Heisman candidate. They gain Boston College, N.C. State, Louisville and Clemson, which has played in four of the past five national championship games.

The ACC will scrap its two-division format for this season only. Instead, it will switch to one league, with the two teams atop the standings — determined by win-loss records in conference games — meeting in the championship Dec. 12 or 19 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

Notre Dame will play a 10-game conference schedule and be eligible to compete in the title game.

As part of the agreement, all television revenue, including Notre Dame’s home games broadcast by NBC, will be shared equally by the 14 ACC schools and the Irish.

The new ACC schedule also affects West Virginia, which had expected to open the season against Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The ACC also announced that fall Olympic Sports competition may begin Sept. 10

The team sports will play the NCAA minimum number of games — field hockey (6), women’s soccer (6), men’s soccer (6) and volleyball (10). Schools will continue to schedule regular- season cross country competitions at their discretion.

Fall competition in men’s and women’s golf, tennis and lacrosse, plus rowing, softball and baseball, has been canceled, but those student-athletes in golf and tennis will be eligible to compete unattached.

“As we look ahead to the fall, the safety of our students, staff and overall campus community continues to be our top priority,” said Kent Syverud, Chancellor of Syracuse University and the Chair of the ACC Board of Directors. “Today’s announcement outlines a specific path for ACC fall sports to return to intercollegiate athletic competition using comprehensive protocols put forward by our ACC Medical Advisory Group.

“As a league, we understand the need to stay flexible and be prepared to adjust as medical information evolves in conjunction with local and state health guidelines.”

ACC Commissioner John Swofford said the decisions were made after “months of thoughtful planning.”

“The Board’s decision presents a path, if public health guidance allows, to move forward with competition. Our institutions are committed to taking the necessary measures to facilitate the return in a safe and responsible manner.

“We recognize that we may need to be nimble and make adjustments in the future. We will be as prepared as possible should that need arise.”

Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke called the new ACC schedule “an important first step as we continue to build a framework to safely play the 2020 season.”

“The focal point of our planning has been and will continue to be the health and well-being of our student-athletes. The ACC’s Medical Advisory Group has been an exceptional resource in helping us plot a course in an ever-changing health environment.

“We will remain vigilant as we work through the additional details that need to be resolved before a season can commence.”

The Medical Advisory Group has recommended minimum standards for each campus to follow. They include weekly testing for close-contact sports, standards for reporting positive test results and protocols for cleaning and sanitizing competition areas.

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