The Atlantic Costal Conference is eliminating is divisions in football beginning in 2023.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the ACC says the new structure will be “based on a 3-5-5 structure whereby each team will play three primary opponents annually and face the other 10 league teams twice during the four-year cycle, once at home and once on the road.”
Here’s what that means for Pitt Football:
The Panthers’ three primary opponents will be Boston College, Syracuse and Virginia Tech each year.
The other teams will be played two-times during a four-year cycle.
With the Atlantic and Costal divisions being eliminated, the top two teams will be determined by conference win percentage and will play each other in the ACC Championship in Charlotte, NC the first Saturday in each December.
“The future ACC football scheduling model provides significant enhancements for our schools and conference, with the most important being our student-athletes having the opportunity to play every school both home and away over a four-year period,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “We appreciate the thoughtful discussions within our membership, including the head football coaches and athletic directors. In the end, it was clear this model is in the best interest of our student-athletes, programs and fans, at this time.”
The Panthers’ upcoming ACC schedule from 2023-2026
2023: Home – Boston College, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina; Away – Duke, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
2024: Home – NC State, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech; Away – Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina
2025: Home – Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Wake Forest; Away – Florida State, Louisville, Syracuse, Virginia Tech
2026: Home – Georgia Tech, Miami, Syracuse, Virginia Tech; Away – Boston College, Clemson, NC State, Virginia
The ACC will still operate with two divisions in 2022.
Pitt is a member of the Costal Division; one they have won twice since joining the ACC.
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Led by coach Pat Narduzzi and quarterback (now Steeler) Kenny Pickett, the Panthers won their first-ever ACC title in school history his past season.