• The ACC will reduce its men's basketball conference schedule from 20 to 18 games beginning in the 2025-26 season.
• The decision was influenced by a historically poor season and a desire to improve NCAA Tournament bids.
• The new schedule includes permanent rivals playing home-and-home, variable rivals also playing home-and-home, and a 'zero-play' format where teams miss one conference opponent each year.

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has decided to reduce its men's basketball conference schedule from 20 to 18 games, starting with the 2025-26 season. This move comes after a period of experimentation with the 20-game format, and is motivated by a desire to improve the conference's performance in the NCAA Tournament. The ACC's athletic directors approved the change, hoping it will allow teams to strengthen their non-conference schedules and improve their chances of securing at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament.

• What: The ACC is reducing its men's basketball conference schedule from 20 to 18 games, starting in the 2025-26 season.
• Who: ACC athletic directors and coaches were involved in the decision-making process. Commissioner Jim Phillips provided an official statement.
• When: The change was approved on May 7, 2025, and will take effect for the 2025-26 season.
• Where: The ACC, a collegiate athletic conference in the United States.

The ACC's decision to reduce its conference schedule reflects a growing concern about the league's competitiveness and its ability to secure NCAA Tournament bids. By reducing the number of conference games, the ACC hopes to allow its teams to strengthen their non-conference schedules and improve their overall resumes. This move acknowledges the ACC's recent struggles compared to other major conferences, particularly the SEC, which has seen significant success in recent years. The scheduling change aims to address concerns about 'dead weight' conference games dragging down NCAA Tournament resumes and give teams the flexibility to pursue more impactful non-conference matchups.

"Moving to an 18-game conference schedule is a direct result of our ongoing strategic review and analysis and provides our schools a better balance of non-conference and conference games."

"You aren't going to fix the problem by going from 20 to 18. The problem for the ACC is, a lot of these teams just haven't been good."

The ACC's strategic shift to an 18-game men's basketball conference schedule, effective in the 2025-26 season, is a multifaceted response to declining NCAA Tournament representation and aims to enhance the conference's national profile. This decision, mirroring a similar move by the Big 12, intends to provide ACC teams with greater flexibility to schedule high-profile non-conference matchups, thereby strengthening their tournament resumes and improving overall competitiveness. The success of this adjustment hinges on teams capitalizing on the scheduling changes to secure marquee wins and attract larger television audiences, aligning with the ACC's new revenue-distribution model. However, the reduction also introduces complexities, as teams will not face every league member each season, potentially impacting traditional rivalries and creating unbalanced schedules. Ultimately, the ACC's ability to regain its status as a premier basketball conference depends not only on strategic scheduling but also on the overall improvement of its teams and their performance in non-conference play.