MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Atlantic Coast Conference became the third ‘Power 5’ conference to announce their football schedule plans for the coronavirus-affected 2020 season. The ACC will play a 10-game conference schedule with one additional non-conference game.
ACC rules stipulate that all non-conference game opponents, selected by the respective school, must be played in the home state of the ACC institution, and all non-conference opponents must meet the medical protocol requirements as agreed upon by the ACC.
Based on those requirements, West Virginia will not be able to play Florida State as scheduled in the season opener on September 5. Those two teams were supposed to face off in the first of three ‘Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Games’ in Atlanta.
“We certainly understand the ACC is doing what they feel is in the best interest of the conference and the health of their teams, staff and student athletes, and as our partners, we support them in that decision,” said Peach Bowl CEO & President Gary Stokan.
“However, we are disappointed we will lose the opportunity to host Florida State, Virginia and North Carolina and their fans in our scheduled Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games this season.
“We still look forward to hosting two top 10 teams in our Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on January 1 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.”
West Virginia now has two holes in their non-conference schedule. The Big 10 Conference has announced they will play a conference-only schedule, which cancels the Mountaineers’ home game on September 19 against Maryland.
The Big 12 and the SEC have yet to formally announce any plans altering their original schedule formats to the 2020 season.