Because of the extended 12-team College Football Playoff, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips told the media on Sunday that there could be changes to the ACC Championship game in future seasons.
On Sunday, Phillips spoke about the importance of keeping games in the conference relevant at the end of the season, potentially using more teams to continue implications of a ACC Championship game, keeping people interested.
Of course, this comes after this past season’s ACC Championship game, where the winner would be guaranteed a spot in the team’s 12-team College Football Playoff. While Clemson won, securing a spot in the postseason, the biggest debate in the 12 hours of uncertainty was between SMU. Being the loser of the ACC Championship and other teams who were hoping for an at at-large bid, like SEC teams Alabama and South Carolina. Perhaps the new championship format would allow more openness for a second ACC Championship team.
Phillips proposed two different ideas to change the format. The first was to give the regular season champion a bye and put the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the conference against each other, with the winner playing the regular season champion in the ACC championship.
To put it in effect last year, it would be SMU getting the bye, and Miami and Clemson playing each other for a spot in the ACC Championship game.
The other idea was to put the top four squads against each other. No. 1 seed and No. 4 seed play each other while No. 2 and No. 3 seeds play each other. The winners would play the next weekend for a spot of a guaranteed spot in the playoff.
Nothing is set to happen just yet, as Phillips will get feedback from all the league’s head coaches in order to gauge interest and see if it’s a viable option that people desire. He will also continue to speak about this through the ACC’s winter meetings in Charlotte in February.
We’ve seen the excitement and implications that have been set by this 12-team playoff in its first season. Now, you are beginning to see how conferences are changing to bring their best teams to the forefront.
