In case we are going to have to scramble for a last minute replacement for SMU, I took a look at all the other ACC schools 2026 noncon schedules to see who else might get canceled if the ACC goes to a 9 game conference schedule.
SMU game scheduled for 9/19, so it would need to be someone with an opening (or cancellation) that same day most likely.
BU already has its FCS opponent (PVA&M 9/12), so don't want another FCS.
Louisville, Miami, NCSt, Pitt, Stanford, UVA and Wake only show 3 noncon games, so they may have already planned for his. No one available.
BC: @Cincinnati, Rutgers, Maine (9/19), @ND. Likely to cancel either Cincy or Rutgers. Maine is FCS. Rutgers has another game 9/19. Cincy is Big 12
Cal: UCLA, @BYU, Wagner (9/19), @UNLV. I doubt they cancel UCLA. BYU is Big 12. Wagner is FCS. UNLV shows an opening on 9/19, but would have to give up a home game. Plus we have UNLV PTSD around here.
Clemson: @LSU, Georgia Southern, Charleston Southern, SCar. They aren't canceling LSU or SCar. ChSo is FCS. GaSo is likely canceled but has another game 9/19 (although the irony of adding them after passing on the Birmingham Bowl is noted)
Duke: Tulane, @ Illinois, William & Mary, UConn. None of these are on 9/19. Not sure which they might cancel. W&M is FCS; UConn is tied to basketball rivalry; Tulane plays KSt on 9/19.
FlaSt: NMSt, @Bama (9/19), Central Arkansas, Florida. Not canceling Bama or Florida. UCA is FCS. That leaves NMSt, which shows an opening on 9/19. A possibility.
GaTech: Colorado, Tenn, Mercer (9/19), @UGA. They aren't dropping UGA. Mercer is FCS. Colo is B12. Tenn is start of a home & home in 26-27, so they may cancel the series. Tenn has a game scheduled 9/19.
UNC: TCU in Dublin, E Tenn St, UConn (9/19), ND. Ireland game and ND are set; E Tenn St is FCS. That leaves UConn, who would be looking to fill an opening on 9/19 and has a road game available.
Syracuse: New Hampshire, Toledo (9/19), @ UConn, ND. UNH is FCS. ND is contractual. That leaves the aforementioned UConn and Toledo, who would be open on 9/19 with a road game available.
VaTech: VMI, Old Dominion, @Maryland (9/19), JMU. Saw a comment on the Reddit thread referenced above from a VT fan saying he was hearing they were cancelling JMU for the same reason. JMU shows an opening on 9/19.
So based on the above, it looks like the 4 candidates that best fit the criteria may be:
New Mexico St
UConn
Toledo
James Madison
with an outside possibility of UNLV.
