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ACC announces 2027 conference opponents as teams move to 9 league games
Confirmed
In Short: Hibernian has sacked head coach David Gray following the team's sixth consecutive home league loss, marking the end of a 12-year tenure.
Hibernian has sacked head coach David Gray after the team suffered its sixth successive home league loss, stretching back to last season. Gray, who had overseen 107 games, won just one of his first 15 league games but led the team to a remarkable recovery, finishing third in the Scottish Premiership last season.
The decision comes after Hibernian's poor form, with Gray's sacking ending his 12-year stay at Easter Road. The team's recent struggles have been a significant factor in his departure.
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) announced its 2027 football conference opponents on Wednesday, setting the stage for the second season under the ACC’s 9-game scheduling model. This move follows the phased implementation that began in 2026.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D., stated, 'Announcing our 2027 conference opponents provides another exciting look ahead for ACC Football and the compelling matchups our fans can expect across the league.' The new model ensures that every ACC program will play a minimum of 10 games annually against Power Four opponents, reinforcing the collective strength of ACC Football.
What's confirmed
- Hibernian has sacked head coach David Gray after the team suffered its sixth successive home league loss, stretching back to last season. Gray, who had overseen 107 games, won just one of his first 15 league games but led the team to a remarkable recovery, finishing third in the Scottish Premiership last season.
- The decision comes after Hibernian's poor form, with Gray's sacking ending his 12-year stay at Easter Road. The team's recent struggles have been a significant factor in his departure.
- The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) announced its 2027 football conference opponents on Wednesday, setting the stage for the second season under the ACC’s 9-game scheduling model. This move follows the phased implementation that began in 2026.
- ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D., stated, 'Announcing our 2027 conference opponents provides another exciting look ahead for ACC Football and the compelling matchups our fans can expect across the league.' The new model ensures that every ACC program will play a minimum of 10 games annually against Power Four opponents, reinforcing the collective strength of ACC Football.
What's still developing
- Both campaigns yielded European qualifiers which ended in dramatic, last-gasp Conference League play-off exits.
- Gray oversaw 107 games, winning 43, losing 35 and drawing 29.
- The 2026 season served as the transition year, with 12 programs playing nine ACC games and at least one Power Four non-conference opponent, while five programs are playing eight conference games and at least two Power Four non-conference opponents.
- The phased implementation allowed the conference to move toward the expanded league schedule while accommodating previously contracted non-conference games and the scheduling considerations created by the ACC’s 17-team membership.
- “By continuing to ensure that every team plays a minimum of 10 Power Four opponents, this model reinforces the collective strength of ACC Football, supports competitive balance across our 17 programs, and prepares our teams to compete at the highest level nationally.” The ACC began its transition to the new scheduling structure in 2026 following overwhelming support from the athletic directors.
- In 2027, the model moves to its next phase, with 16 programs playing nine conference games.
- Overall, the ACC’s scheduling model maintains the league’s commitment to competitive balance, traditional and regional rivalries, schedule strength and marquee non-conference competition while providing increased opportunities for conference matchups across the league’s 17 programs.
- “There’s so much on the line just from what the game means in conference play and being a Top 10 matchup,” Golding said at his press conference.