The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has publicly aligned with a proposal to double the College Football Playoff (CFP) field to 24 teams. This stance, voiced by ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips during the conference's spring meetings in Florida, signals a significant push for expanded postseason access. The conference's coaches and athletic directors reportedly reached a unanimous consensus on the 24-team model during a joint meeting.
The ACC's endorsement places it alongside the Big Ten and Big 12, both of which have indicated support for the larger playoff bracket. This collective front could exert considerable pressure on the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which currently favors a 16-team expansion, in ongoing discussions about the CFP's future structure. The ACC is expected to present financial projections for a 24-team format to its athletic directors.
"You need to give more teams hope," said Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, whose program also leans towards the 24-team model. Bevacqua suggests that a larger playoff field could incentivize more programs to schedule challenging non-conference games, as regular-season losses might become less punitive.
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has also revealed its support for a 24-team playoff. However, this backing comes with a notable caveat: a proposal to eliminate conference championship games. This idea, supported by the AFCA, aims to shorten the overall college football calendar.
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Conference Commissioners Divided
The push for a 24-team playoff is not universally shared among conference leaders. While the ACC and Big 12 commissioners champion the larger field, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has maintained a preference for a 16-team playoff, should expansion beyond the current 12-team format proceed. The final decision on any CFP structural changes ultimately rests with commissioners like Sankey and the Big Ten's Tony Petitti.
Underlying Motivations and Criticisms
The ACC's perceived support for a 24-team field appears, in part, to stem from a desire to secure more automatic bids. Last year, for instance, the ACC's champion, Duke, and Notre Dame both failed to make the 12-team CFP. Some analysts suggest that an expanded playoff, particularly a 24-team format, could make it more feasible for SEC teams to qualify, even with losses, due to what some describe as "cannibalism" within strong conference schedules.
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However, not all figures in the sport are convinced by the proposed expansion. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has criticized the current selection committee process and views doubling the CFP field as a potentially "knee-jerk reaction" that might not address deeper issues within the sport's postseason structure. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit has also expressed concerns about potential negative impacts on the game, particularly regarding the allocation of automatic qualifier slots tied to specific conferences.
Dabo Swinney, coach at Clemson, has voiced reservations about the increasing number of games. With a potential 24-team playoff, teams participating in conference championship games could be compelled to play as many as 17 or 18 games in a season, a volume he considers unsustainable for student-athletes.
Background and Precedents
Discussions around CFP expansion have been ongoing, especially after the field grew to 12 teams. The comparison is often made to the NCAA basketball tournament's expansion. The current 12-team playoff format is set to continue for another year, with negotiations for future structures continuing. The CFP is reportedly modeling both 16- and 24-team formats for discussion in upcoming meetings.
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