ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips is making a strong case for expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, and he's using recent history to back it up. The 2023 season left a bitter taste for Florida State, which went undefeated and won the ACC Championship—only to be snubbed by the CFP committee. Now in 2026, Phillips is leaning on that very moment to push for a bigger, more inclusive playoff field.

At this year's ACC spring meetings, the conversation naturally turned to television rights and competitive balance—two areas where both Florida State and Notre Dame fans have felt the sting. "We suffered through it with Florida State when the field was four, and I know other schools have suffered for it," Phillips said, according to Isa Schoffel of Warchant.com. He didn't stop there, adding, "Notre Dame was a CFP-worthy team this year. They just were."

While it's still unclear whether a 24-team playoff can become a reality in its current form, the idea is gaining traction across the Power Four conferences. The financial incentive is hard to ignore: more games mean more lucrative television contracts. The ACC appears to be on the same page as the Big Ten and Big 12 in pushing for expansion, though the SEC is reportedly leaning toward a more modest 16-team format rather than jumping all the way to 24.

Not everyone is on board, of course. Fans have raised concerns about how expansion might water down the regular season and conference championships. The debate between automatic qualifiers and at-large bids is heating up, with critics arguing that teams might even opt out of conference title games to avoid risking a playoff spot. That's a real worry for programs across the country.

As college football continues to evolve from the current 12-team format, what's next? We're all watching closely to see how the landscape shifts—and whether Phillips's push for 24 teams will cross the goal line.