ACC Coaches Tackle Playoff Expansion, NIL Challenges

Conference eyes growth while addressing player protection and competitive balance.

The Atlantic Coast Conference’s top minds convened in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking the start of football season with media days. Coaches, players, and league leadership discussed pivotal issues shaping college sports, from playoff format to athlete compensation.

Playoff Structure Debates Intensify

Conference Commissioner **Jim Phillips** voiced the ACC’s openness to expanding the College Football Playoff beyond its current 12-team format. However, any expansion must prioritize fairness and accessibility for all member institutions.

Phillips noted the success of the inaugural 12-team playoff, where the ACC secured multiple bids, and endorsed the recent adoption of straight seeding. He indicated a preference for models like 5-9 or 5-11 for automatic bids and wild cards, contrasting with formats favored by the Big Ten and SEC, which the ACC believes disproportionately benefit those leagues.

SMU Head Coach **Rhett Lashlee** presented his vision for a 16-team playoff, advocating for a system that would remove the selection committee’s influence. He asserted that the ACC merits at least three automatic bids, potentially four if Notre Dame fails to qualify.

Crackdown on Field Storming and Sports Betting Pressures

New policies are set to curb disruptive crowd behavior and mitigate the impact of sports betting on athletes. Fines will now commence at $50,000 for institutions failing to prevent spectators from entering the playing area before teams and officials have exited.

A significant development is the introduction of an injury report for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball. This measure aims to curb insider information leaks used for sports betting, after athletes reported being contacted regarding their availability.

These policy changes are scheduled to take effect for the upcoming academic year.

ACC Depth Challenged, SEC Comparison Ignites Debate

During his remarks, **Lashlee** lauded the ACC’s parity and depth, directly challenging perceptions of other conferences. He pointed to the SEC’s consistent championship winners since 1964 as evidence of a “top-heavy” structure rather than true depth.

“There’s other leagues that claim depth, but the SEC has had the same six schools win championships since 1964. The same six. Not a single one has been different since 1964. That’s top-heavy to me. That’s not depth.”

—Rhett Lashlee, Head Coach, SMU

The coach’s remarks drew sharp criticism, notably from ESPN’s **Paul Finebaum**. On the show *Get Up*, Finebaum countered, “While he’s making fun of the SEC for winning national championships all over the place, SMU’s the most corrupt program in the history of college football. And Rhett Lashlee has the nerve to get up there and throw stones? That’s one of the most comical and embarrassing rants I’ve ever heard.”

Following SMU’s near-miss for a College Football Playoff bid last season, **Lashlee** has become more vocal about conference strength. His recent commentary may serve as a strategic message to the playoff selection committee.

Commissioner Calls for Improvement in Key Sports

Despite acknowledging the conference’s overall progress, **Phillips** expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of football and men’s basketball. He lamented the ACC’s 2-11 record in bowl games last season, emphasizing the need for better postseason outcomes.

Men’s basketball, traditionally a strong suit for the ACC, saw only four teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament, the lowest representation since 2000.

“I am restless with ACC men’s basketball, and I’m responsible for it. I feel responsibility for it. But it’s not good enough where it is right now. I know our coaches feel the same way.”

—Jim Phillips, ACC Commissioner

To bolster competitiveness, the conference is reducing its conference schedule from 20 to 18 games. The aim is to allow for two more challenging non-conference matchups, potentially improving the ACC’s strength of schedule metric.

NIL Compliance and Future Oversight

A significant concern for ACC leadership and coaches is ensuring adherence to the $20.5 million cap on athlete compensation following a major antitrust settlement. The fear is that some institutions may exceed these limits.

Lashlee anticipates schools testing the boundaries of the new system and expressed hope for appropriate disciplinary action against any violators. Commissioner **Phillips** appealed to Congress for clearer guidance on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations.

This call for clarity preceded President **Donald Trump**’s executive order aimed at defining college athletes’ employment status and prohibiting third-party pay-for-play arrangements. For context, as of July 2024, the NCAA reported that 71% of Division I schools currently offer NIL opportunities to their athletes, highlighting the evolving landscape of collegiate sports compensation (NCAA, July 2024).