Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

ACC Leads 24-Team Playoff Push, SEC Opposes

5/14/2026

50 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Phillips Calls 24-Team Playoff

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips announced a 24-team playoff at Amelia Island on May 13, 2026, citing Florida State’s 2023 four-team snub and Notre Dame’s 2025 exclusion from 12-team field as proof the playoff must double.
Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC back 24-team; SEC favors 16-team, wants $80 million championship game.
ESPN told commissioners prefers a 12-team playoff, possibly 14, not above 16; Dec. 1, 2026 decision will set 2027 format.

Summary

ACC Adjusts Schedule

The ACC will schedule nine conference games for each of its 16 football teams, with one team playing eight league games and adding two Power Four opponents to reach ten Power Four games.
Uneven conference games force the ACC to revise its championship tiebreaker, though not yet active.
Phillips expects the College Football Playoff committee to set a power-conference tiebreaker standard at its June meeting.

1 of 2

Phillips Calls 24-Team Playoff

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips announced a 24-team playoff at Amelia Island on May 13, 2026, citing Florida State’s 2023 four-team snub and Notre Dame’s 2025 exclusion from 12-team field as proof the playoff must double.
Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC back 24-team; SEC favors 16-team, wants $80 million championship game.
ESPN told commissioners prefers a 12-team playoff, possibly 14, not above 16; Dec. 1, 2026 decision will set 2027 format.

1 / 2