ACC Considers Championship Format Changes Amid College Football Playoff Expansion

ATLANTA — ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips announced Sunday that the conference is considering changes to its football championship format to better align with the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP). The discussions aim to ensure the importance of conference champions and championship games in the new playoff structure.

One proposed idea is to have the regular-season champion receive an automatic bid to the CFP, while the second and third-place teams compete in the ACC Championship Game. Another option involves a postseason tournament format, where the top four teams face off in semifinal matchups on Thanksgiving weekend, with the winners advancing to the championship game.

Phillips emphasized the need to protect the regular-season champion, citing the example of SMU, which went undefeated in the regular season but lost the ACC title game and narrowly secured a playoff spot. “The conference championship games are important, as long as we make them important,” Phillips said. “Do you play two versus three? You go through the regular season, and whoever wins the regular season, just park them to the side.”

The discussions come as the CFP considers adopting a 3-3-2-2-1 format, which would guarantee the ACC two automatic bids starting in 2026. Phillips plans to present these ideas to ACC coaches and athletic directors during a conference call next week, with further analysis expected at the league’s winter meetings in February.

Complicating matters is the ACC’s scheduling, particularly for teams like Clemson, Florida State, and Georgia Tech, which traditionally play nonconference rivals on the final weekend of the season. Phillips acknowledged the challenges but stressed the importance of maintaining the value of conference championships. “Winning a conference championship matters,” he said. “Now, am I open to listening to some other ideas? Absolutely.”

The CFP’s current format guarantees first-round byes to the four highest-ranked conference champions, a rule that has sparked debate. Notre Dame, an independent program, is ineligible for a bye under the current system. Athletics director Pete Bevacqua said the Irish are content with the format but warned that changes to conference championships could necessitate a reevaluation of seeding protocols.

As the CFP prepares for a new six-year contract with ESPN starting in 2026, discussions about expansion and on-campus playoff games are expected to intensify. Phillips and other conference leaders will continue to explore options to ensure the ACC remains competitive in the evolving college football landscape.