ACC commissioner Jim Phillips releases statement regarding CFP expansion

The reactions continue to pour in after the College Football Playoff Board of Managers voted to expand the CFP to 12 teams on Friday. One came from ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, who voiced his support for the decision.

The board voted unanimously to take the CFP from four teams to 12 teams by 2026 — and there’s reportedly a chance it can happen sooner. Phillips has previously said he wants the format to stay at four teams through the end of the deal with ESPN, but is in favor of eventual expansion.

He reiterated that support in his statement.

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“The ACC has been clear from the start that it supports CFP expansion and we are grateful for the ongoing discussions to ultimately resolve our concerns regarding the 365-day calendar and impact on student-athletes,” Phillips said in his statement. “Today’s decision by the CFP Board of Managers is welcomed by the ACC and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to execute the board’s directive. Our collaboration over the last six months will serve us well as we address the important specifics of the premier event in college football.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey releases statement on College Football Playoff expansion

Phillips wasn’t the only commissioner to weigh in on the landmark decision. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey — one of the most prominent voices in college football — also chimed in on the CFP’s decision, lauding the board for making the call.

“This is an exciting day for the future of college football,” Sankey said. “As originally proposed, the 12-team playoff creates more access for teams and conferences across the country to compete in college football’s championship event. There is work to be done to make this format a reality, but I am pleased we are now all moving in the same direction with a common purpose.”

More on the CFP’s decision to expand to 12 teams

The College Football Playoff Board of Managers met Friday and voted unanimously to expand to 12 teams. The current CFP contract with ESPN runs through 2025, but talks could get started about expanding earlier than that. Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger reported the commissioners will meet next week to talk about just that and expanding as early as 2024 would lead to an extra $450 million in TV revenue.

No matter when the playoff expands, the CFP announced the format for its new look when it announced the decision.

The 12-team playoff will feature the six conference champions and the next six highest-ranked teams. The top four teams will get a bye, while the other eight teams play first-round games at campus sites. Quarterfinal and semifinal games will, in turn, be played at bowl game sites pending agreements with the bowls.

Additionally, the playoff can start in either the second or third weekend of December, and the committee called for “at least 12 days between the conference championship games and the first-round games.”