The ACC plans to return to its normal eight-conference division format – with Notre Dame as an independent – when the 2021 football season kicks off in September, the league announced Thursday.
In the release, the league noted that a return to the game and released schedule are contingent on COVID-19 guidelines. Last season, the ACC made changes to its schedule to play during the coronavirus pandemic, including Notre Dame as a full-time conference member and playing 10 league games.
With an expected return to a more normal season, Notre Dame is returning to its five-game partnership and the league decided to play the 2021 season as originally planned. As a result, there are several recurring site games from 2019 and 2020.
Clemson, again expected to be the overwhelming favorite to win the ACC, opens the season against Georgia on Sept. 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina, in a highly anticipated major non-conference game with implications for College Football Playoff.
While the ACC played one non-conference game in 2020, the SEC did not, and the various SEC vs. ACC matchups throughout the schedule will certainly be welcome. In addition to the four traditional rivalry games between ACC and SEC to close out the regular season, the schedule also features Miami against Alabama in Atlanta on September 4 and Louisville against Ole Miss in Atlanta on Labor Day evening, September 6. Pitt will be playing on Tennessee in Week 2.
The Tigers open the ACC schedule against Georgia Tech on Sept. 18 and have a Friday night game in Syracuse on Oct. 15. Their game against Florida State – which was canceled hours before kickoff in 2020 – is scheduled for October 30 in Clemson.
Notre Dame opens the season in Florida State on Sunday, September 5. The Irish also play against Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech in 2021. The game against the Tar Heels could bring another showdown between teams hoping for College Football Playoff. .
The season kicks off with five days of ACC football, starting with a Thursday night game between NC State and USF. The opening weekend’s biggest conference game will be North Carolina at Virginia Tech, two teams expected to compete for the Coastal Division title, to be played on September 2 or September 3.
North Carolina and Wake Forest will play another non-conference game on November 6, in an arrangement made several years ago to allow the two teams to play against each other more often.
The winners of the Atlantic and Coastal Division will play in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte on December 4.