ACC commissioner Jim Phillips supports CFP expansion to 24 teams

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips has expressed strong support for expanding the College Football Playoff (CFP) from its current 12-team format to 24 teams. Speaking at the ACC spring meetings on May 13 in Amelia Island, Florida, Phillips stated that coaches and athletic directors are pushing for the change, partly due to instances where deserving teams, such as Florida State in 2023 and Notre Dame in 2025, were excluded from the playoff. The CFP will retain its 12-team structure for the 2026 season, but proposals from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) suggest a possible expansion to 16 or 24 teams beginning in 2027. Phillips emphasized the need to adjust the playoff format to ensure fairness, particularly when high-performing teams miss out on participation. The ACC has also announced changes to its conference schedule, with 12 teams playing nine league games starting in 2026, while five teams, including Clemson, will play eight conference games due to scheduling constraints. Phillips noted discussions about updating tiebreaker policies for the ACC championship game, with CFP rankings potentially playing a role in determining participants. A resolution is expected by June to align with the goal of featuring the best teams in the title game. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney remains indifferent to potential CFP format changes, stating he lacks influence over the decision and believes it has minimal impact on his team’s postseason success. Under Swinney, Clemson has thrived in various postseason formats, including appearances in the BCS New Year’s Six bowl games and the four-team CFP from 2015 to 2020, along with a bid to the 12-team CFP in 2024. The CFP’s management committee will meet in June to further discuss the future of the playoff, including potential tiebreaker standards for power conferences. Phillips stressed the importance of refining the process to ensure the strongest teams advance to championship games.