Photo Credit: Brandon Spearman

The ACC and The CW: Bringing More College Football and Basketball

Prepare yourself for some exhilarating news if you’re a fan of college football and basketball! Brace yourself as the CW Network has recently obtained exclusive broadcast rights for a staggering 50 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) college football and basketball games each season, extending until 2026-27. The partnership between the ACC and the CW is destined to provide you with an amplified dosage of the electrifying action that you hold dear, directly to your screens.

For real enthusiasts of Clemson University, this announcement is nothing short of great tv expansion. No matter where you are, you can now watch moments of your cherished ACC teams in full swing. Whether you find yourself unwinding at home, reveling in the game’s ambiance at a local tavern, or on the move, the CW has you covered.

The ACC and The CW are bringing 50 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) college football and basketball games each season, extending until 2026-27.

Jim Phillips, the esteemed ACC Commissioner, radiated his elation about this partnership, affirming, “The addition of the CW to our weekly television lineup for ACC football and basketball games is a source of tremendous excitement.” The inclusion of the CW as a broadcasting platform has opened up novel avenues for fervent followers to maintain an unyielding connection with their beloved teams.

Let’s dive into the specifics of this exhilarating partnership. Commencing on September 9, you can anticipate ACC football games being televised every Saturday, both during the afternoon and prime time. To inaugurate the proceedings, a showdown between Pitt and Cincinnati shall grace the screens. With an impressive tally of 13 football games earmarked for broadcasting, an abundance of opportunities awaits you to witness your favorite teams lock horns in exhilarating clashes.

“We are thrilled to be adding The CW to our weekly television lineup for ACC football and basketball games,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “The CW’s national distribution will directly benefit our student-athletes, teams, alumni and fans. We appreciate ESPN and Raycom working together and look forward to the partnership with The CW.”

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D

Hold on tight, as there’s more to come! The CW has additionally secured the rights to broadcast 28 men’s basketball games and 9 women’s basketball games. These enthralling basketball encounters are set to be showcased throughout December, January, and February. On Saturdays, brace yourself for men’s basketball doubleheaders during the afternoon, while women’s basketball games will grace Sunday afternoons. Hence, whether your passion lies in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, or both, the CW has taken measures to ensure that you don’t miss a single moment of these enthralling bouts.

The ACC and its 15 member institutions have enjoyed incredible success including:

  • No other conference has won more NCAA national championships in the last two years than the ACC. The league has won 16 national titles in the last two academic years, including a league-record nine in 2022-23.
  • The ACC has won seven national championships in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball since 2015. The ACC is the only conference to win each of those four titles over that stretch.
  • The ACC has had a team in either the College Football Playoff or the BCS National Championship Game in eight of the last 10 years, including two teams in 2020. The ACC has placed the second-most teams in the CFP since its inception.
  • The ACC placed nine teams in football postseason games in 2021. That marked the 22nd consecutive season in which the ACC earned at least six bowl bids. Not including the pandemic-affected 2020 season, the ACC has sent at least nine teams to a bowl every year since 2016. Since 2013, the ACC is second among all conferences with 100 postseason appearances.
  • ACC men’s basketball teams have combined to win three of the last eight NCAA National Championships and eight of the last 22 NCAA Titles, and both are the most of any league. ACC teams have combined for the most NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament wins in history and five different programs have advanced to the Final Four since 2015, the most of any league. Over the last two seasons, the ACC holds a 21-10 record, the best of any major conference.
  • ACC women’s basketball programs have made 23 trips to the Final Four, which includes nine different institutions, and has had five Final Four appearances in the last five years. The ACC has 21 straight Elite Eight appearances and the most NCAA Tournament wins since 2014. The league’s eight bids in 2023 were the most of any conference.

Stats from the theACC.com

Surge of the ACC

The ACC and its 15 esteemed member institutions have experienced an awe-inspiring surge in success in recent times. Over the course of the past two academic years, the ACC has secured a staggering 16 NCAA national championships, surpassing every other conference in this feat. Notably, they managed to capture nine national titles during the 2022-23 season alone, establishing an unprecedented record within the league.

Furthermore, the ACC stands as the sole conference to clinch national championships in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball since 2015. Their dominion over these four prominent sports remains unparalleled.

The ACC: One of the best in the past decade

In the world of college football, the ACC has emerged as one of the better conferences. Throughout the past decade, they have witnessed a team participating in either the College Football Playoff or the BCS National Championship Game in an impressive eight out of ten seasons. In 2020, they even managed to secure two teams in the College Football Playoff, thus providing a testament to their strength and competitive spirit. The ACC has consistently demonstrated its mettle in the realm of football, rendering it a conference that demands attention.

Furthermore, the ACC boasts a rich history of appearances in postseason play. In 2021, an astounding nine ACC teams secured spots in football postseason games, marking the 22nd consecutive season featuring a minimum of six bowl bids. Excluding the pandemic-impacted 2020 season, the ACC has witnessed no less than nine teams participate in bowl games annually since 2016. This unwavering presence in postseason games underscores their talent pool’s depth and their unwavering spirit of competition.

Men’s Basketball

Shifting our focus to men’s basketball, the ACC reigns as an indomitable force as well. ACC teams have collectively triumphed in three out of the past eight NCAA National Championships, outshining all other leagues in this regard. In fact, they have captured an impressive eight NCAA titles within the past 22 years, emblematic of their enduring excellence. Furthermore, the ACC lays claim to the record for the most NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament victories throughout history. Since 2015, a remarkable five distinct ACC programs have reached the illustrious Final Four, thereby underscoring the conference’s robustness and the profound depth of talent.

Womens Basketball

The women’s basketball programs within the ACC have also garnered their fair share of accolades. They have secured an impressive 23 berths in the Final Four, representing a noteworthy array of nine distinct institutions. In the past five years alone, ACC teams have made appearances in the Final Four on five occasions, thereby highlighting their unrelenting performance at the highest echelons of the sport. The ACC boasts an astonishing streak of 21 consecutive appearances in the Elite Eight and reigns supreme as the conference with the most NCAA Tournament victories since 2014. In 2023, the ACC seized an astounding eight bids to the NCAA Tournament, claiming the highest count among all conferences.

Viewing on Raycom Sports and The CW

Now, let us address the viewing experience. Raycom Sports, the esteemed production company tasked with broadcasting all the games on the CW, pledges to deliver a heightened experience replete with enhanced features and bonus content during halftime and intermissions. You can eagerly anticipate post-game highlights and thought-provoking interviews that will elevate and enrich your overall watching experience. These supplementary features serve to render the games all the more immersive and captivating for viewers.

One prominent advantage arising from the alliance between the CW and the ACC lies in the potential to reach hitherto untapped audiences. Both brands stand to benefit from expanding their viewership and engaging with fans who might have otherwise remained unacquainted with their offerings. Consequently, an expanded array of viewing options beckons, catering to traditional cable TV aficionados and enthusiasts of streaming services alike. The accessibility accompanying these games ensures that you shan’t be bereft of any thrilling moments.

Catch Every ACC Game Possible on The CW

So, how can you ensure that you catch every football and basketball game, particularly if you espouse allegiance to Clemson University? Several options lie at your disposal. If you are subscribed to a cable TV service, kindly verify whether the CW features within your package. If it does, then you shall gain unrestricted access to all 50 ACC games without any additional hassle. Additionally, if you are a student or alumnus, your university might furnish you with online streaming options, enabling you to relish in the games’ splendor from any corner of the globe. And in the eventuality that these avenues fail to materialize, bear in mind that many streaming services extend complimentary trial periods or affordably priced monthly subscriptions. Simply exercise due diligence by researching and thoroughly reviewing the terms and conditions before subscribing.

The collaboration between the CW and the ACC is a momentous occasion for college football and basketball enthusiasts, especially those who pledge their unwavering support to Clemson University. With a total of 50 games being broadcasted each season, an abundance of opportunities unfolds, permitting you to bask in the thrill and root for your beloved teams. The value-added features and supplementary content courtesy of Raycom Sports shall contribute towards rendering your viewing experience an all the more pleasurable endeavor. Whether you opt for traditional cable TV, online streaming services, or the offerings presented by your alma mater, you may rest assured that nary a moment of ACC football and basketball shall elude your gaze. Therefore, recline comfortably, let serenity envelop you, and brace yourself for an extraordinary season replete with riveting matchups and indelible moments.

Stay up-to-date with all things Clemson sports by visiting Clemson Sports Media, your one-stop website for everything Clemson. We provide post-game interviews, in-depth analysis, and comprehensive coverage of all Clemson sports. Don’t miss out on the latest news and updates, visit Clemson Sports Media today.