When the Syracuse Orange and Pittsburgh Panthers eventually join the ACC, the only question remaining was how it would alter the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions for football. Turns out, it won't change much and the two will just be split between them, Syracuse to the Atlantic and Pitt to the Coastal.
"The Atlantic and Coastal divisions will remain the same with Syracuse joining the Atlantic and Pitt joining the Coastal. The current primary crossover partners will remain consistent with Syracuse and Pitt becoming primary crossover partners with each other.
When Pitt and Syracuse join the ACC, the league will play a nine-game conference schedule. The format will consist of each team playing all six in its division each year, plus its primary crossover partner each year and two rotating opponents from the opposite division. This six-year cycle allows each team to play each divisional opponent and its primary crossover partner six times (three home and three away) while also playing each rotating crossover opponent two times (one home and one away)."
Here are the new divisions:
Atlantic Division
Boston College Eagles
Clemson Tigers
Florida St. Seminoles
Maryland Terrapins
N.C. State Wolfpack
Syracuse Orange
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Coastal Division
Duke Blue Devils
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Miami Hurricanes
North Carolina Tar Heels
Pittsburgh Panthers
Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Tech Hokies
The move works out for both new schools as they get to keep playing one another and both get the crossover partner they wanted.
For Maryland, Syracuse presents another Northeastern rival and one that has a little bit of history between them. Some Syracuse fans have been waiting for the chance to play Maryland more often for some time now.
For more on the Syracuse Orange, visit Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. For more on the Pitt Panthers, visit Cardiac Hill. For more on the Maryland Terrapins, visit Testudo Times.