ACC to end divisional play after ’22 season; UVA’s primary partners are L’ville, UNC, VT

By Jerry Ratcliffe

The ACC will say goodbye to divisional football play after the 2022 season and adopt the 3-5-5 scheduling model, with each team to play three primary opponents annually and the other 10 conference teams twice each four-year cycle.

Virginia’s primary opponents are Louisville, North Carolina and Virginia Tech (see future league schedules and each ACC team’s primary opponents below).

“I am excited to compete under the new scheduling model,” said UVA coach Tony Elliott. “I am very grateful that our student-athletes will have an opportunity to experience a game day environment at every other institution in the ACC.”

All 14 league schools will compete in one division beginning in 2023, much like the ACC did during the pandemic-impacted 2020 season. The top two teams based on conference winning percentage will play in the ACC championship game in Charlotte, N.C.

“The new model creates several enhancements for ACC football, which will be beneficial to the league, our student-athletes and our fans,” said Carla Williams, UVA’s director of athletics.

In the new setup, Virginia will face all 13 conference opponents home and away at least once during the four-year cycle.

“We appreciate the thoughtful discussions within our membership, including the head football coaches and athletic directors,” said ACC commissioner Jim Phillips. “In the end, it was clear this model is in the best interest of our student-athletes, programs and fans, at this time.”

Here are Virginia’s 2023-2026 ACC opponents (home and away):

2023
Home: Duke, Georgia Tech, NC State, Virginia Tech
Away: Boston College, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina

2024
Home: Florida State, Louisville, UNC, Wake Forest
Away: Clemson, Duke, Pitt, Virginia Tech

2025
Home: BC, Miami, Syracuse, Virginia Tech
Away: Georgia Tech, Louisville, UNC, NC State

2026
Home: Clemson, Louisville, UNC, Pitt
Away: FSU, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest

Here is a list of each ACC school’s three primary partners:
Boston College: Miami, Pitt, Syracuse
Clemson: Florida State, Georgia Tech, NC State
Duke: North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest
Florida State: Clemson, Miami, Syracuse
Georgia Tech: Clemson, Louisville, Wake Forest
Louisville: Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia
Miami: Boston College, Florida State, Louisville
North Carolina: Duke, NC State, Virginia
NC State: Clemson, Duke, UNC
Pitt: BC, Syracuse, Virginia Tech
Syracuse: BC, Florida State, Pitt
Virginia: Louisville, North Carolina, Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech: Pitt, Virginia, Wake Forest
Wake Forest: Duke, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech