In addition to considering a nine-game conference schedule, ACC officials have also broached the idea of a model in which conference teams would play eight league games and one SEC opponent every season, according to several sources from both conferences.

Four ACC teams already have regular games against SEC opponents, and sources say a possible schedule plan could expand that number. Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

Four schools in the ACC -- Florida State, Georgia Tech, Clemson and incoming member Louisville -- already have built-in SEC rival games during the final week of the regular season.

An SEC source told ESPN.com that the ACC's idea of an "8+1 model" was merely a concept that had been discussed only once and was a long way from being a reality. It was so premature, he said, that most athletic directors in the SEC hadn't even been briefed on it.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive told ESPN.com through a spokesman that his conference wants to create a scheduling format to take effect in 2016, but no details have been finalized.

"Achieving that objective involves exploring as many options as possible, which we are currently doing," Slive said. "Anything more is pure speculation."

The SEC source said he did not see a scenario to which all 14 SEC schools would agree, but there may be one in which the SEC could match some teams against the ACC, particularly if those SEC teams were having trouble finding suitable BCS nonconference opponents.

It is unlikely that the SEC would make all its teams play the ACC on the final week of the season, when Auburn-Alabama already headlines the show. Also, two SEC sources said the conference was also considering more regular matchups with Big 12 teams.