ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips Says Now Isn’t the Time for Playoff Expansion

The ACC is one of the roadblocks standing in the way of the College Football Playoff expansion, and while it isn’t just the ACC, commisioner Jim Phillips clearly doesn’t want expansion right now.

Phillips said Friday that the ACC unanmiously agrees that right now isn’t the time for playoff expansion, citing other NCAA issues to figure out first and the desire to wait out the current playoff format of four teams before implementing a new one.

Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger recaped a few of Phillips’ talking points from his call with the media.

Recap of Jim Phillips call:
– ACC supports expansion but there are more important matters, such as NCAA transformation, transfer portal, NIL, etc.
– ACC is no longer tied to an 8-team model
– ACC presidents/ADs/coaches believe 12-team playoff extends the season too much

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 14, 2022

Sports Illustrated’s Madeline Coleman highlighted a couple of the issues that are holding Phillips and the ACC back, including the length of the college football season, impact on bowl games, academic calendars, NCAA governance structure and federal legislation.

Coleman further reported that Phillips feels the issue of NCAA reform, transfer portal and NILs are a bigger concern that potential playoff expansion for the conference right now.

It’s clear that any potential expansion is quite far off as there hasn’t even been close to unanmious consent among the playoff expansion committee.