By Ralph D. Russo, AP College Football Writer
Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips has taken the strongest public stance yet against expanding the college football playoffs by the 2024 season, saying a new post- season shouldn’t be a priority with so much uncertainty in college sports.
“For the ACC, we don’t have a problem with the college football playoffs,” Phillips said Friday during a conference call with reporters. “We have a college football and college-slash-NCAA athletics problem.”
The NCAA is expected to ratify a new constitution at its convention this week, paving the way for decentralized college sports governance and a Division I transformation.
Phillips cited changes to ID as well as the continued need for federal legislation regarding name, image and likeness compensation for athletes, lingering ramifications of the Supreme Court’s decision to year that overturned NCAA limits on educational benefits for athletes and the ability for athletes to organize.
“ACC members are very aligned with his position that it’s not the time to extend the college football playoffs,” Phillips said.
The 10 conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director who make up the CFP management committee wrapped up three days of meetings the weekend before last before the national title game in Indianapolis with expansion talks still ongoing. stalled and the hope of implementing a new format by 2024.
The door was not completely closed during the early expansion by the university presidents who oversee the CFP.
“The board wants us to keep working,” Phillips said. “We are not opposed to expansion at any given time. Right now, we don’t think that’s the right thing to do in college football. »
A 12-team playoff proposal has been on the table since June.
Phillips said the ACC only favored expanding to eight teams, but in November he determined there was too much going on in college sports to rush to expand the football playoffs. .
The 12-year playoff deal runs through the 2025 season. Extending the playoffs before the deal is struck with ESPN could be worth around $450 million in additional conference rights fees. Major college football operates primarily outside the jurisdiction of the NCAA.
Even if the management committee fails to agree on a plan that can be implemented quickly, it still needs to reach a new agreement for 2026 and beyond.
“Members believe we have a responsibility to look at CFP and college football from a holistic perspective and not just whether to add more teams to the playoffs. There are legitimate concerns about the welfare of student-athletes, the impact on academics and the length of the season,” Phillips said.
Phillips said that before the CFP expands, a comprehensive review of how major college football works — from the recruiting schedule and transfer rules to the planning and conduct of spring and preseason training — should be done. carried out.
Last season was the first season in the PSC’s eight-year history that the ACC did not have a field team.
Phillips said he spoke with Clemson players who have played 15 game seasons.
“They don’t want to play games anymore. They don’t,” he said. “I don’t know how Georgia and Alabama felt after Monday night, but the Clemson student-athletes who competed, they don’t.”
Phillips said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and new Miami coach Mario Cristobal, who was an assistant coach for Alabama teams that played in the playoffs, have expressed concerns that teams reaching the championship game play 16 or maybe 17 games in a new format.
Pittsburgh won the ACC that season, finishing 11th in the final playoff committee standings under coach Pat Narduzzi. The Panthers played in the Peach Bowl without star quarterback Kenny Pickett, who retired, and lost to Michigan State.
“Coach Narduzzi and all of our coaches are unanimous that now is not the right time,” Phillips said.
Phillips also addressed speculation that the ACC favored an eight-team playoff as a means of pushing Notre Dame to join as a member of football.
“One is not related to the other despite what others may speculate,” he said.
Phillips isn’t alone in wanting to take a broader look at college football during a tumultuous time, with relaxed rules around NIL and transfers.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby and Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey have both expressed the need for a comprehensive review.
Sankey said that after Monday’s meeting in Indianapolis, the increased number of games could be offset by changing the rules regarding clock stops in games to reduce the number of games.
“We have over 200 games in games,” he said. “We can actually reduce exposures with rule adjustments, expand the playoffs, bring in more teams. It’s a vision. But if everyone has to have every item on their Christmas list, it won’t be a Merry Christmas.
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