The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a major collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, comprising eighteen NCAA Division I member universities. Founded on May 8, 1953, with seven universities, the ACC has undergone significant expansion, particularly since 2000, to now span a wide geographic area from Florida to California.
Recognized as one of college football's "Power Four" conferences, the ACC boasts a storied history of success, with its teams and athletes claiming numerous national championships across its twenty-eight sponsored sports. Its institutions, including prominent names like Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, and Notre Dame (which maintains a special football scheduling arrangement), are consistently regarded among the nation's top collegiate competitors. The conference is also notable for its extensive media coverage and a unique high proportion of private universities among its members.