How Louisville Football Fits Into Evolving CFB Landscape

The College Football landscape is changing in real time. How Louisville football will fit into the equation moving forward.

Written by:

With the 2025–2026 college football season, including Louisville football, officially underway, the College Football Playoff committee seems to be pushing toward a greater focus on in-conference schedules.

The goal is to build a more competitive field year in and year out, giving the teams within these conferences a better chance to make the playoff. Because of these priorities, there has been much discussion across the Power Four conferences about expanding the yearly schedule to a total of nine conference games.

Impact on the ACC

Pete Thamel, College Football Senior Writer for ESPN, reported that there is currently a debate within the ACC about whether to adopt the nine-game schedule or stick with the current eight-game format. He later stated, “There’s an in-person meeting in late September for the ACC to further discuss the options. Jim Phillips, the ACC Commissioner, called the meeting, which was not previously scheduled, and sources indicate there’s hope for direction then or soon after.”

Sources: There’s ACC scheduling debate that’s unfolding: Does the ACC pivot to 9 league games and an additional mandated game against a power conference school? Or, does the league stick with 8 league games and a mandate of two games out-of-conference games against power schools. pic.twitter.com/oWQBwebBQq
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 1, 2025

The Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC have already adopted this approach, which will go into effect at the start of the 2026 season. That leaves only the ACC to decide whether to follow suit. This creates many questions for Louisville football’s future non-conference scheduling.

Also read: Key Questions for Jeff Brohm in 2025

Louisville football future schedules at risk

The main point of conversation is Louisville’s annual matchup with in-state rival Kentucky. Questions have been raised about whether this game is worth keeping for either program going forward. Many fans want to preserve the rivalry, while others seem to favor a possible change in the near future.

With a home game against Georgia in 2026, an away game in 2027, a home matchup with Texas A&M in 2028, and an away game in 2029, there’s a real chance some highly anticipated matchups could be lost. With the SEC adopting the nine-game conference schedule, Alabama and West Virginia have already taken the first step toward taking advantage of this change. Both teams mutually agreed to cancel their home-and-home series scheduled for 2026 and 2027. Alabama replaced the game with East Carolina in 2026, while West Virginia scheduled Coastal Carolina in its place.

Article continues below.

Listen to the latest episode of From The Pink Seats Podcast!

Losing the Kentucky matchup would end an era of football in the Bluegrass State that many grew up with. For decades, the end-of-season meeting between these two teams has meant just as much as any other game on the schedule, regardless of each team’s record. This rivalry has created memories for generations of friends and families. Whether it’s consoling one another after a loss or enjoying the sweet feeling of walking into the office with yearly bragging rights, it’s a matchup that both fan bases hold close to their hearts. If teams across the country are already making changes, will Louisville or Kentucky be next?

Benefit of more conference games?

Moving from four non-conference games to three would encourage teams to focus more on conference play while softening the non-conference slate to create an easier path toward postseason consideration. The goal is to strengthen résumés at the end of the season when the committee evaluates playoff selections. Unfortunately, this puts marquee, high-profile non-conference games at risk—making the road to the playoff more difficult for programs like Louisville, which is seeking its first appearance and believes it’s on the cusp of a berth.

In today’s college football landscape, where easing schedules is increasingly popular, Louisville fans have prided themselves on enjoying a strong non-conference slate. When asked about the ACC possibly adopting a nine-game schedule, Head Coach Jeff Brohm had this to say:

“I’m 100% in favor of moving to nine games and have been for a while… College football, in my opinion, should, for the good of the game, try to go to where you’re scheduling the best opponents every week.”

Coach Brohm seems confident the nine-game schedule will be adopted soon. With an extra in-conference matchup looking increasingly likely, here are some advantages Louisville could gain from the change:

The most basic pro is that the university’s revenue stream would grow larger. More games means more money for the school, especially when replacing a potential “buy game” against a lower-tier opponent with a higher-stakes in-conference matchup. Another advantage would be the chance to build a stronger playoff résumé. This nine-game format aims to eliminate smaller out-of-conference matchups and swap them for conference rivals, inevitably adding another Power Four opponent to Louisville’s schedule. For a program seeking its first playoff appearance, gaining more revenue and building a more compelling résumé would be a significant step forward.

“I’m 100% in favor of moving to nine games and have been for a while
Jeff Brohm, Louisville Football HC

Making sense of the ACC’s obstacles

The main issue for the ACC is the number of teams. It’s a 17-team league, and with that odd number, it is mathematically impossible for every team to play the same number of games without imbalance. If this format is adopted, there will always be teams with either one too many or too few conference matchups.

One possible solution is for the ACC to lean on its relationship with Notre Dame. Although the Fighting Irish remain independent, counting games against them as conference games could help balance the schedule. Another realistic option is adding another team. Expansion would not only resolve the scheduling problem but also add stability and competitiveness to a league facing long-term uncertainty. If the ACC chooses to expand, however, the addition must be a program that strengthens the conference’s profile in the eyes of the playoff committee. Several programs on the rise could make strong candidates, but this is a decision that must be made carefully.

One of the most notable options is the Memphis Tigers. Memphis is looking to leave the American Athletic Conference and join the Power Four discussion. As an old rival of Louisville, with multiple 10-win seasons in the last decade and a notable basketball program, the Tigers could be a strong fit for the ACC. Another program in the mix is the Tulane Green Wave. Tulane has invested heavily in its football program and appears to be continuing that trend after winning last year’s AAC Championship. The Green Wave is a name the college football world has its eyes on, and the program seems determined to continue climbing in Division I athletics.

What to expect

You could make the case for many teams that might fit into the ACC, but with the current instability in the league, any addition must be carefully chosen. After adding Cal and Stanford, the ACC needs to take a hard look at its options and make smart moves if it wants to survive in the ever-changing world of college football.

All signs point toward the ACC adopting a nine-game conference schedule. Louisville could benefit from this change, but several key adjustments must happen before it becomes reality.