Woah … didn’t have ESPN being a savior on my bingo card.
According to ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, ESPN isn’t a fan of the College Football Playoff expanding past 16 teams. Phillips gave confirmation Wednesday that the four-letter network has been clear with conference commissioners regarding where they stand on the size of the CFP. (RELATED: President Trump Hosts National Champion Indiana At White House)
“ESPN has been pretty clear with all of us that they’d like it to stay at 12, maybe 14, but no higher than 16,” said Phillips, per On3’s Andy Staples.
ACC commish Jim Phillips:
“ESPN has been pretty clear with all of us that they’d like it to stay at 12, maybe 14, but no higher than 16.”
Yet ACC is supporting 24.
— Andy Staples (@AndyStaples) May 13, 2026
As far as the ACC is concerned, they’re in support of a format that features 24 teams. ACC games are aired on ESPN exclusively.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips says the league’s football coaches and ADs support expanding to a 24-team College Football Playoff. Says when you leave worthy teams out, you need to tweak format. Cites 2023 Florida State (in 4 team context) and 2025 Notre Dame (in 12 team context)
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) May 13, 2026
It’s not expected that any final decisions will come soon, however, stakeholders have already revealed their ideal situation. The comments from Phillips humanize the report from Yahoo Sports in April that executives from ESPN dismissed a 24-team expansion from behind the scenes.
Exclusive broadcasting rights for the College Football Playoff belong to ESPN, with that deal in place for a format up to 14 teams. Some of the CFP is sublicensed by ESPN to TNT. If the playoff goes past 14 teams, the extra games would be available to buy for other networks.
So, in other words, ESPN is playing “savior” because they want the entire playoff under their umbrella, and as somebody who isn’t a fan of participation trophy culture, they fit my narrative, so I’m rocking with them.
Get ’em, ESPN! (Though I severely hate having to root for anything owned by Disney)