ACC Cuts Schedule to 18 Games Starting 2025-26

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will reduce its men's basketball conference schedule from 20 to 18 games beginning in the 2025-26 season to improve its prospects for NCAA Tournament bids, following a year with only four teams selected, the lowest since 2013. The change, approved by ACC athletic directors, will free up two nonconference slots for potentially high-profile opponents and is part of a broader strategic review led by Commissioner Jim Phillips. The move comes as the ACC has expanded to 18 teams and recorded the lowest nonconference winning percentage among the five high-major leagues last season. The adjustment is also intended to incentivize matchups that increase TV viewership and corresponds with a new revenue-distribution model. Concerns remain that improved nonconference scheduling and performance are necessary for meaningful gains, despite the schedule change. The new format will continue to protect traditional rivalries with annual home-and-away games.