Football Atlantic Coast Conference

1 football

1.1 divisions
1.2 bowl games
1.3 national championships

football

the acc considered 1 of power 5 conferences, of receive automatic placement of football champions 1 of 6 major bowl games. 7 of members claim football national championships in history, 2 having won now-defunct bowl championship series (bcs) during existence between 1998 , 2014 , 1 having won under current college football playoff (cfp) system. 5 of members among top 25 of college football s all-time winningest programs.

divisions

in 2005, acc began divisional play in football. division leaders compete in playoff game determine acc championship. inaugural championship game played on december 3, 2005, in jacksonville, florida, @ venue known alltel stadium, in florida state defeated virginia tech capture 12th championship since joined league in 1992. notre dame began playing several acc teams each year in 2014, not considered football member , not eligible play in acc championship game.

the acc ncaa division conference divisions not divided geographically (e.g., north/south, east/west).

the previous division structure led each team playing following games:

five games within division (one against each opponent)
one game against designated permanent rival other division (not school s closest traditional rival, within conference); similar sec setup
two rotating games (one home, 1 away) against teams in other division
four out-of-conference games.

on february 3, 2012, acc announced new regular-season scheduling format added syracuse atlantic division , pittsburgh coastal division. these new teams paired cross-divisional rivals. change took effect when pitt , syracuse joined conference in july 2013. on october 3, 2012, announced in-division game result in 1 fewer cross-division game.

the current division structure leads each team playing following games:

six games within division (three home, 3 away, 1 against each opponent)
one game against designated permanent rival other division (not school s closest traditional rival, within conference); similar sec setup
one rotating game against team in other division
four out-of-conference games. (beginning 2014 season, 1 of 4 ooc games against notre dame every 2 3 years, notre dame play against 5 acc opponents in non-conference games each season.)

starting 2017 season, acc members required play @ least 1 non-conference game each season against team in power 5 conferences. games against notre dame meet requirement. in january 2015, conference announced games against fbs independent, byu, count toward requirement. acc teams can meet requirement scheduling 1 in non-conference games; first example of announced in january 2015, when north carolina , wake forest announced play home-and-home non-conference series in 2019 , 2021.

in table below, each column represents 1 division. each team s designated permanent rival listed in same row in opposing column. alignments reflect in place since louisville joined acc in 2014.

bowl games

within college football playoff, orange bowl serves home of acc champion against notre dame or team sec or big ten. if conference s champion selected cfp, acc team chosen in place.

the other bowls pick acc teams in order set agreements between conference , bowls.

beginning in 2014, notre dame eligible selection acc s representative of contracted bowl games. acc s bowl selection no longer bound rigidity of one-win rule have general list of criteria emphasize regionality , quality matchups on field. one-win rule apply notre dame s participation in acc bowl structure. notre dame eligible acc bowl selection beginning citrus bowl , continuing through league s bowl selections. however, notre dame must within 1 win of acc available team has best overall record, in order chosen. in other words, if acc team 9-3, 7-5 notre dame team not chosen in place. notre dame have 8-4 chosen on 9-3 league team.

* if acc champion not in 1 of semifinal games appear in orange bowl, or, if orange bowl semifinal or national championship site, 1 of playoff host bowls, either fiesta, cotton or chick-fil-a peach. there no limit on how many teams college football playoff may choose particular conference.

** if acc opponent in orange bowl, in non-semifinal year team big ten, maximum of 3 times in 6 years.

*** after 2014 , 2016 seasons; others conditional selection if not filled c-usa or the american.

**** conditional years if not filled sec or the american.

national championships

although ncaa not determine official national champion division fbs football, several acc members claim national championships awarded various major selectors of national championships recognized in official ncaa football bowl subdivision records. since 1936 , 1950 respectively, these include pervasive , influential selectors, associated press poll , coaches poll. in addition, 1998 2013 bowl championship series (bcs) used mathematical formula match top 2 teams @ end of season. winner of bcs contractually awarded coaches poll national championship , afca national championship trophy macarthur trophy national football foundation. maryland won 1 championship member of acc in 1953.

italics denote championships won before school joined acc.
in addition, non-football member notre dame claims 11 national titles. many sources, however, credit fighting irish 13. see notre dame fighting irish football national championships more details.