The ACC is considering various scheduling models for the upcoming season, including one that would have Notre Dame eligible to play in the conference championship game, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Sources indicated that was only one of various scheduling models under discussion, and changes continue to be made to models and proposed schedules. Any scheduling model needs approval from the ACC Board of Directors, made up of all ACC 15 presidents and chancellors.
The preferred scheduling model is expected to be presented to them next Wednesday.
Unlike the other Power 5 conferences, the ACC has various scheduling partnerships that have complicated discussions about what to do about the season schedule as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. One would be the four ACC/SEC rivalry games that schools from both conferences want to protect. Another is Notre Dame, which has an annual scheduling partnership with the ACC. Currently, Notre Dame has six scheduled ACC games.
For that reason, there has been no appetite in the ACC for a conference-only schedule, which is the route chosen by the Pac-12 and Big Ten.
Therefore, all discussions have centered on a conference-only plus one nonconference game model. That would allow the four ACC schools with end-of-season rivalry games to play them.