• Football
  • Power Four Closes Ranks: ACC’s 9-Game Move Puts The Squeeze On Group Of Six Conferences

Power Four Closes Ranks: ACC’s 9-Game Move Puts The Squeeze On Group Of Six Conferences

Details
Football

(BCSNN) — The ACC’s decision to adopt a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026 may seem like a simple alignment move with the rest of the Power 4, but for Group of Six programs like Oregon State and Memphis, it’s a seismic shift that threatens their access to marquee match-ups—and the revenue, exposure, and recruiting visibility that come with them.

Under the new model, ACC teams will be required to play 10 games against Power 4 opponents annually, leaving just two slots for non-conference scheduling flexibility. For programs like Appalachian State, Toledo, and Georgia Southern, that means fewer chances to land games against ACC schools—and fewer opportunities to pull off the kind of upsets that have defined college football’s chaotic charm.

“This is about the continued consolidation of power and money,” said one former FBS conference administrator that wished to remain anonymous. “The Power 4 are circling the wagons, and everyone else is getting boxed out.”

The move follows similar shifts by the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12, all of which now require nine league games per season. That leaves Group of Six schools scrambling to fill their own schedules, often with fewer options and less leverage. The ripple effect could impact bowl eligibility, TV visibility, and even recruiting pipelines.

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips framed the change as a strategic alignment: “This positions the ACC as one of only two leagues committed to having every team annually play a minimum of 10 games against Power 4 teams."

But for G6 programs, it’s a clear signal that the top tier of college football is becoming more insular—and less interested in sharing the spotlight.

With fewer of these games available to schedule, Group of Six athletic departments may face budget shortfalls and reduced national exposure, resulting in exponentially lower visibility and revenue for G6 programs over time. And while traditional ACC-SEC rivalries like Florida State–Florida and Clemson–South Carolina will continue, the rest of the non-conference calendar is tightening fast.

Let's be real here. We're coming off a weekend that saw teams from The American knockoff SEC and Big 12 programs with Tulsa winning at oSu and Memphis beating Arkansas at home. Tulane (American) beat Duke (ACC) the week before that. UCLA (Big Ten) is 0-2 against the Mountain West, losing to UNLV and New Mexico in back-to-back weeks. It's not that the so-called "Power 4" is better than the "Group of Six," because the results on the field prove that ain't the case. Which makes those P4 and G6 labels even more ridiculous. The fact is, it's same old story - the rich kids are losing in a system they setup. So now, they're taking their ball and going home.

The question now is, what do conferences and programs outside of the Power Four do next?