Miami football gets BC, FSU and Louisville in new ACC scheduling model

The Miami football program will play Boston College, Florida State and Louisville annually in the new ACC three-five-three scheduling model beginning in 2023. Miami will rotate playing the other 10 ACC  teams on a two-year on-and-off basis in a home and home. Miami not playing Virginia Tech annually was extremely surprising.

The ACC set the schedule annually through 2026. The adoption of the new scheduling model by the ACC eliminates the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions that were instituted in 2005. Miami last won the ACC in 2017. The ACC naming three Atlantic Division teams as the future annual rivals for Miami was also surprising.

The top two finishers in the ACC Football standings beginning in 2023 will earn berths in the conference championship game at the end of the season. Most Power Five conferences have been pushing for the elimination of divisions during the 2022 offseason. The Big XII has not had divisions since 2010.

Between 2011 and 2016 the Big XII did not have a conference championship game. The Big XII reinstituted their conference championship game following the 2017 season with the top two teams in the standings earning berths. The foundation for the ACC decision began during the 2020 season.

During the 2020 Covid season the ACC eliminated divisions and add Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish finished first in the regular season in their sole year as a football-playing member of the ACC. Clemson finished second and beat undefeated Notre Dame in the ACC Championship game. Both teams earn College Football Playoff berths.

The decision by the ACC to end the Miami versus Virginia Tech annual rivalry ends a 31-year streak of the Hurricanes and Hokies playing every year since 1992. Miami and Virginia Tech have played 12 times as ranked teams and four times with both teams in the top 10. Virginia Tech is Miami’s fourth most frequent opponent.

Florida, Florida and Pittsburgh are the only three teams the Miami football program has played more often than Virginia Tech. Boston College is the fifth most frequent Miami opponent. Boston College will play Miami, Pittsburgh and Syracuse annually. Pittsburgh will play Boston College, Syracuse and Virginia Tech annually.