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ACC commissioner says ‘now is not the time’ for College Football Playoff expansion
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And just like that, it seems as though College Football Playoff expansion is off the table.
In the summer months of 2021, it appeared that the sport was moving towards an expanded format. Talks about a 12-team field, which included the top four squads earning a bye and would prove to be a more inclusive tournament were becoming more prominent.
On Friday, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips struck down the idea that Playoff expansion would be happening anytime soon, though. With four years remaining under the current contract of the four-team system, the former Northwestern athletic director said now is not the time to be discussing it.
Below are some of Phillips’ most notable comments while meeting with reporters on Friday regarding the College Football Playoff:
Pretty significant from ACC commish Jim Phillips on @CFBPlayoff expansion:
"The membership of the ACC is very much aligned in its position that now is not the time to expand the College Football Playoff." Current deal w/4 team playoff has 4 years remaining— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 14, 2022
Commissioner Jim Phillips cites 3 main reasons for the ACC being against expansion: too many unanswered questions with student-athlete welfare, the overall disruption of college sports since 2019 and a 365-day holistic review of college football done with ADs, coaches, players.
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) January 14, 2022
Commissioner Jim Phillips cites 3 main reasons for the ACC being against expansion: too many unanswered questions with student-athlete welfare, the overall disruption of college sports since 2019 and a 365-day holistic review of college football done with ADs, coaches, players.
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) January 14, 2022
Phillips: "Others have suggested that somehow our stance on CFP expansion is tied to our desire to have Notre Dame join (as a full member). That's absolutely, positively not true."
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 14, 2022
Phillips says they got feedback from ACC athletes, and Clemson "does not want to play any extra games."
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 14, 2022
Phillips says this has been the ACC’s position since mid November, notes “a greater change in the NCAA landscape.”
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 14, 2022
Phillips says the ACC is more focused on working with the other conferences on "much larger issues" facing college athletics, like NCAA reform.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 14, 2022
Jim Phillips effectively articulates that expansion is dead at least for the next four years. He wants to to wait to see what the @NCAA Transformation Committee re constitution does before moving on. That will take until at least Aug. 1. It's dead folks, until at least 2026.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) January 14, 2022
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips: "The membership of the ACC is very much aligned in its position that now is not the time to expand the College Football Playoff."
There you have it.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 14, 2022
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB