Last season's 20-game schedule had teams facing two repeat opponents, with new members Cal, SMU, and Stanford grouped together as partners.

The ACC has not secured a national championship since 2019, breaking a pattern of championships every other year by its teams.

This proposal, reported by CBS Sports, is anticipated to receive approval in the upcoming spring meetings in Florida.

The ACC is actively seeking solutions to improve its men's basketball performance and restore its competitive stature.

The hope is that reducing the number of league games will enhance the conference's national profile and competitiveness.

The suggestion for a shorter schedule reflects ongoing discussions about the competitiveness of ACC teams in national tournaments.

The ACC previously operated on an 18-game schedule until the 2019-20 season, when it expanded to 20 games alongside the launch of the ACC Network.

The SEC has surpassed the ACC as the leading conference in college basketball, consistently achieving at least six NCAA Tournament bids since 2018.

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is contemplating a reduction of its basketball schedule from 20 games to 18 to enhance its NCAA Tournament participation, following a disappointing season where only four teams qualified.

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips has highlighted the necessity for improved scheduling and metrics to boost the chances of more teams qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

The conference's recent decline in performance is attributed to several high-profile retirements and exits of influential coaches, raising concerns about its future competitiveness.

The proposed 18-game format would include one game against each of the 16 teams and two games against a permanent rival, contrasting with the current system that features two repeat opponents.