Jim Phillips suggests major change to College Football Playoff, conference championship formats

Year One of the 12-team College Football Playoff is nearly over but tweaks might be coming. Suggestions have come from all over, including ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. It’s a scenario to potentially help get more teams into the field while still handing out an automatic qualifier.

Conference championship weekend is important, with a lot of TV revenue at stake. Phillips suggests having second and third-place teams battle it out, likely being a play-in game. A regular season champion would be declared and get the conference’s AQ spot in the CFP.

“Interesting idea ACC commish Jim Phillips brought up with a few of us: crown regular season conference champ and reward them w/ CFP AQ,” CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello said via X. “On ‘championship’ weekend pit second and third place teams for a spot in the CFP.”

Using this year’s ACC as an example, SMU would have won the regular season title. Clemson finished second place and instead of facing the Mustangs, Miami would still be alive. Potentially getting a win vs. Clemson might be a big enough resume boost to be included.

SMU could have potentially benefitted by not playing in a conference championship game too. Instead of dropping a game to Clemson, Rhett Lashlee‘s team would have not only safely been in but potentially a top-four seed. A bye week would have automatically sent SMU to the quarterfinals instead of going to play Penn State on the road.

Potentially a conference like the Big 12 would benefit as well. Arizona State was the Big 12’s lone CFP representative this season, earning a bye but losing to Texas in the Peach Bowl. Phillip’s suggestion would have seen BYU and Iowa State compete after being ranked No. 17 and No. 18 in the final rankings.

Change is likely coming to the College Football Playoff format either way. Expanding even further from 12 teams may occur as soon as 2026 when a fresh television deal is put in place. As of right now, the reported number sits at 14. Just one more guaranteed year of 12 teams remain.

Some out-of-the-box suggestions certainly will be presented until the format’s future is 100% decided. Phillips provided the latest, likely hoping to help get non-Big Ten/SEC conferences multiple teams into the field.