ACC commissioner Jim Phillips strongly advocating for No. 12 Miami, league champion to receive CFP bids

December 3, 2025 - 6:21 PM UTC

The Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Jim Phillips, is making a strong push for the No. 12-ranked Miami Hurricanes to receive a bid to the College Football Playoff (CFP), alongside the winner of the ACC Championship Game between No. 16 Virginia and Duke. This comes as the ACC faces a challenging situation, with the possibility of being left out of the 12-team CFP based on the latest rankings released on Tuesday evening.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Phillips was resolute in his argument, emphasizing Miami's case, followed by the league's eventual champion. This follows a complicated situation in the ACC, where a tie-breaker system was used to determine the participants in the conference championship game in Charlotte. The tie-breaker came into play due to a cluster of four 6-2 teams trailing behind Virginia, leading to a sequence of tiebreakers that resulted in Duke advancing, despite having five losses.

"I have confidence in our teams, starting with Miami," Phillips stated. "And the winner of the Virginia-Duke game should absolutely be in the College Football Playoff."

Current Landscape

The Hurricanes (10-2) have finished strong, holding the top spot among ACC teams in both the AP Top 25 and CFP rankings. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers (10-2) have emerged as the only 7-1 team in the ACC. Duke's inclusion in the rankings, triggered by SMU's loss to California, adds an unpredictable element to the situation.

CFP bids are awarded to the highest-ranked league champions, with automatic spots going to the winners of the Power Four conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC. The highest-ranked team from a Group of Five conference (such as the American, Conference USA, or Mountain West) also receives an automatic bid. As of Tuesday's CFP rankings, Miami sits just outside the top 12, which would grant them an at-large bid. Virginia is ranked 17th, and if they win the conference title, they are virtually guaranteed a playoff spot. However, Duke, with a 7-5 record, is not ranked.

Meanwhile, the American Athletic Conference features both of its title-game teams (North Texas and Tulane) in the CFP rankings, meaning the winner of that matchup could also secure a playoff spot. Additionally, James Madison (11-1) is ranked No. 25, further complicating the situation for the ACC, as a Duke win over Virginia could see the Sun Belt Conference earn a fifth champions spot, leaving Miamis playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

Miamis Case

Miami's argument for a CFP spot is bolstered by their head-to-head victory over Notre Dame, which sits two spots ahead of them in the CFP rankings despite a 27-24 loss to Miami in their season opener. Both teams have matching 10-2 records and similar strength-of-schedule rankings, but Miami has more wins against top-40 teams in ESPN's College Football Power Index, with five compared to Notre Dame's two. Miami also boasts a perfect 4-0 record against AP-ranked teams, while Notre Dame has a 2-2 record against ranked opponents.

Im unwavering in my belief, which has only strengthened as the season has progressed, particularly over the last four weeks, Phillips explained. When you look at the eye test, the stats, and the resultstheyve earned a playoff spot.

The Miami athletic director, Dan Radakovich, also weighed in on social media, noting that Miamis head-to-head win should be considered the primary differentiator in their case for a CFP bid. Phillips expressed his surprise and disappointment that Miami did not move up in the rankings following their 38-7 victory over a 22nd-ranked Pittsburgh team last week, but he emphasized that there is still time for the selection committee to make adjustments before the final rankings are released.

"The final rankings are not until Sunday, and theres still time for the committee to make adjustments," Phillips added. "Weve been in constant communication with them, and Miami has unquestionably earned a spot in the playoffs."

The Duke Dilemma

Virginia's rise to No. 16 in the CFP rankings has placed them in a position where a victory in the ACC Championship Game would secure a playoff berth. However, Phillips also made the case for Duke, whose five losses came against teams with a combined record of 46-14. This is a significant difference when compared to James Madison's losses, which include a lone defeat to Louisville, an ACC team.

Strength of schedule is a key priority, Phillips emphasized, referring to the selection committees focus on scheduling quality. Duke's opponents have a combined 98-58 record, and their strength of schedule is ranked 74th by ESPN, while James Madison's strength of schedule ranks 118th. Duke coach Manny Diaz also voiced his belief that if Duke wins the ACC title, they will have earned a CFP bid, noting the significant difference between competing in the ACC versus other leagues.

"Ive coached in those other leagues, and Im proud of what we accomplished, but it's not the same as the ACC," Diaz said. "The level of competition here is unmatched."

Phillips remains optimistic that the ACC will secure two playoff spots, regardless of how the championship game unfolds. Im confident in the strength of our conference, and I truly believe we deserve two teams in the playoff this year, he concluded.