The possibility of the ACC going to an all-conference schedule in 2020 likely means an increase of games against conference opponents from eight to 10. Which teams are most likely to be added to the Miami football schedule?
The Miami football team currently is scheduled to play their six annual games against ACC Coastal Division opponents, the annual rivalry game against Florida State and are at Wake Forest for their other 2020 crossover game. There are multiple scenarios about which two teams could be added to the Hurricanes 2020 schedule.
Miami lost its game at Michigan State that was scheduled for September 26 off its non-conference schedule when the Big 10 announced that they will be playing a 10 game conference only schedule in 2020. Virginia Tech was the only other ACC team scheduled to play a Big 10 team this season.
The Hokies were scheduled to play at Penn State on September 12. Notre Dame who is an ACC member in every sport except football was supposed to play Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. Notre Dame has six games scheduled against ACC opponents in 2020. The ACC is expected to work with Notre Dame on their schedule.
The Fighting Irish could be included if the ACC goes to a conference only schedule following the decision by the Big 10. The potential for the conference to add a Notre Dame-Miami football game to the schedule in 2020 would bring in big ratings and advertising dollars. That would leave Miami with one more game.
SOURCE: ACC coaches have been told of a conference-only games plan (as @Brett_McMurphy reported). I'm told the coaches have not yet been told it’s definite. ACC’s tentative conference-only football plan as they've discussed would extend to include #NotreDame.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) July 9, 2020
Miami has not played Clemson in a regular-season game since 2013. The two teams met in the ACC Championship game in 2017 won 38-3 by the Tigers. North Carolina State and Miami have not played since 2016. That could be the next game that the ACC looks at. The Wolfpack and Hurricanes are scheduled to play in 2021.
The ACC is expected to announce that they will follow the Big 10 and go to a conference only schedule. The Big 10 plays nine conference games per season to the ACC’s eight. The ACC also has the more complicated factor with what to do with Notre Dame and their six games against conference teams.
Do not expect the ACC to give those lucrative games up, especially with Notre Dame being a member in every other sport except football. Miami has played ACC Atlantic teams Syracuse, Boston College and Louisville in the last three seasons. With the schedule still fluctuating a lot is yet to be determined.