The ACC plans to return to its normal eight-conference division, with Notre Dame as an independent, when the 2021 football season begins in September, the league announced Thursday.
In its release, the league noted that the return to the game and the schedule as released is dependent on COVID-19 guidelines. Last season, the ACC made changes to its schedule to play during the coronavirus pandemic, including playing 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-match schedule partnership, and the league has decided to play the 2021 season as originally planned. As a result, there are several iteration games from 2019 and 2020.
Clemson, who is expected to be the overwhelming favorite to win the ACC again, opens the season against Georgia on September 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina, in a highly anticipated showdown with College Football Playoff implications.
Although the ACC played one game for non-conferences in 2020, the SEC did not, and the various games against the SEC and ACC throughout the entire schedule will certainly be welcomed. In addition to the four traditional rivalries between ACC and SEC to end the regular season, the schedule also includes Miami vs. Alabama in Atlanta on Sept. 4 and Louisville vs. Ole Miss in Atlanta on Labor Day night, Sept. 6. Pitt plays at Tennessee in Week 2.
The Tigers open the ACC schedule against Georgia Tech on September 18 and hold a Friday night game in Syracuse on October 15. Their game against Florida State – which was canceled in 2020 hours before the kick-off – is scheduled for October 30 in Clemson.
Notre Dame opens the season in Florida State on Sunday, September 5th. The Irish also play Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech in 2021. The game against the Tar Heels could provide another showdown between teams with the hopes of College Football Playoff.
The season begins with five days of ACC football, beginning with a Thursday night game between NC State and USF. The biggest conference game of the opening weekend is North Carolina at Virginia Tech, two teams that are expected to compete for the title of Coastal Division, which will be played on September 2 or 3.
North Carolina and Wake Forest will play a non-conference game again on November 6, in an arrangement made several years ago to play the two teams more frequently.
The winners of the Atlantic and Coastal divisions play on December 4 in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte.