protecting 2 cross-division games for UVA (VT and UNC) in an 8 game conference schedule. The reason the Big Ten is able to get away with protecting Indiana-Purdue is because that is the only protected cross-division game.

As a result, the Big Ten does have to deal with a few quirks from time to time with its future conference schedule rotation. The "quirks" I am referring to is when a team is supposed to play Indiana/Purdue, then 1 game in each division will get bumped to a future year to allow the Indiana-Purdue game to be played that season. Each season at least 1 game in each division will get bumped to a future year. If the game happens to be played the following season, then potentially 1-2 games could get bumped to a future year (1 because of the Indiana-Purdue game and 1 to make room for the bumped game from a previous season). I believe it is these "quirks" is one of the reasons the Big Ten is looking to expand to 16 members.

Since every team in the ACC has 1 protected cross-division game, then it is likely the ACC would see a significant increase in quirks when establishing the future rotation schedule in determining the length of 1 complete cycle. Whereas my proposal eliminates those potential quirks even though there isn't a 3-2 split among the brand programs. I know 4-1 isn't exactly a good split, but I am willing to make that sacrifice in order to preserve as many rivalries as possible. Plus, I hope that the opportunity allows programs like UNC, GT, and UMD to grow into becoming a "brand program" which would then make the split 4-3 or 4-4. I don't think the ACC could come up with a 3-2 split without sacrificing some "important" rivalries.