ACC Championship Game Changes

ATLANTA -- ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips revealed on Sunday that the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is seriously considering changes to its championship game format. With the recent expansion to a 12-team College Football Playoff, the league recognizes the need to evaluate how conference champions and participants in the championship game are determined.

The discussion was sparked after a notable incident in the recent season, where Southern Methodist University (SMU) clinched the ACC regular-season title but experienced a shocking loss to Clemson in the championship game. The Mustangs then faced an anxious wait before ultimately securing a position in the coveted 12-team playoff bracket.

Phillips suggested several innovative options for reshaping the championship game structure. One possibility includes granting the regular-season champion a bye, while allowing the teams finishing second and third in the standings to compete for the championship title. Another intriguing proposal is to have the top four teams from the regular season square off in a final weekend showdown: first against fourth and second against third, with the victors clashing in the championship game the following week.

To gather input on these potential changes, Phillips plans to conduct discussions with ACC head coaches during an upcoming conference call. He noted that SMU coach Rhett Lashlee expressed concerns before the championship game, implying that the Mustangs might have been better off avoiding the game to safeguard their spot in the playoff.

These discussions are set to continue at the ACC's winter meetings in Charlotte, North Carolina, next month, where they will delve deeper into the future of the conference's competitive landscape. Phillips emphasized the significance of the conference championship games and the importance of positioning them properly within the broader playoff system.

"The championship games matter, as long as we treat them with the importance they deserve," Phillips explained. "We might need to differentiate between the regular-season champion and the conference tournament champion.

"I've brought up these ideas in our discussions with athletic directors, and now it’s time to reflect on the regular season and postseason and determine the best way forward."

As college football evolves, fans and teams alike are left wondering: Will these changes revolutionize the ACC landscape? Stay tuned as we await further developments that could shake up college football as we know it!