With football season right around the corner, the ACC Kickoff is now underway. Day 1 started with ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, who was then followed by Atlantic Division coaches and players. Although Virginia will not take the stage until Thursday, some important topics were discussed that do relate to the Cavaliers.  

3-5-5 Scheduling Model

Although fans will not see it this year, the new 3-5-5 ACC scheduling plan and the elimination of divisions are exciting ideas for many of the Atlantic coaches. For Virginia, it keeps its two biggest rivals in Virginia Tech and North Carolina. It will also play Louisville, a series that has had some intriguing matchups since the Cardinals joined the ACC in 2014. 

This new method opens up more opportunities to play conference teams more frequently. With divisions, there would be times where one school would not play the other for a prolonged period. For example, Virginia will face Syracuse in 2022 for the first time since 2015. This model will open the doors for different matchups, as players will play every team at least once at home and once on the road in their four years. Not only is this a positive for the players, but it is also a plus for the fans to see new competition on a two-year basis. The conference hopes it creates better television potential as well.