The ACC has aligned itself with the Big Ten again, seeking support despite past betrayals. This move comes as the Big Ten proposes a new 24-team College Football Playoff system.
Key points
ACC aligns with Big Ten despite past betrayals
Big Ten proposes a 24-team College Football Playoff
The Alliance between ACC and Pac-12 failed
Big Ten's plan aims to increase revenue and competitiveness
ACC seeks survival in the changing college football landscape
Big TenACCSECCollege Football Playoff
AMELIA ISLAND, FL – They officially lined up behind the Big Ten this week, the pitiful and the pandering looking for a handout.
Imagine what it takes for the ACC to believe the Big Ten once again, to buy in with the conference that not long ago whiplashed the ACC and Pac-12 into something called The Alliance to fight back against the SEC adding Texas and Oklahoma.
Then left both for dead — including killing off the Pac-12 as we knew it — when the Ponzi scheme served its brief purpose.
But now — now — the Big Ten is serious with this super duper 24-team College Football Playoff. This unique plan that will vault college football to unprecedented heights, and make everyone rich and fat and happy.
The Big Ten wouldn’t pull a fast one again, would it? Can’t be forming another Alliance with another ulterior motive, can it?
“If you’re going to ask presidents and chancellors and boards to continue to invest in their football programs, it’s really important that they have hope,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said Wednesday during the league's annual spring meetings. “That they have an opportunity at the beginning of the season to get into the playoff.”
Fans look on before the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Q&A
Why is the ACC aligning with the Big Ten after past conflicts?
The ACC is seeking support and survival in the evolving college football landscape, despite previous betrayals from the Big Ten.
What is the significance of the Big Ten's new 24-team College Football Playoff proposal?
The proposal aims to elevate college football to new heights, potentially increasing revenue and competitiveness across conferences.
How did the ACC and Pac-12's Alliance with the Big Ten fail?
The Alliance was intended to counter the SEC's expansion but ultimately collapsed, leaving the ACC and Pac-12 vulnerable and weakened.
What impact does the ACC's decision have on college football dynamics?
The ACC's alignment with the Big Ten could shift power dynamics in college football, influencing future conference alignments and playoff structures.
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Fans arrive before the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The Miami Hurricanes arrive prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Indiana Hoosiers arrive prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
A general view of the exterior of the stadium prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
A general view before the CFP National Championship college football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Indiana Hoosiers cheerleaders performs before the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian poses with cheerleaders and marching band during the CFP National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium.
A general view inside of Hard Rock Stadium prior to a game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan.19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The Marching Hundred band plays for fans inside the stadium before the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026,
The University of Miami band prepares inside the stadium before the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
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See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
Fans look on before the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
1 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
Fans look on before the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
2 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
Fans arrive before the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
3 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
The Miami Hurricanes arrive prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Hard Rock Stadium.
4 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
The Indiana Hoosiers arrive prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
5 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
A general view of the exterior of the stadium prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
6 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
A general view before the CFP National Championship college football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
7 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
The Indiana Hoosiers cheerleaders performs before the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
8 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian poses with cheerleaders and marching band during the CFP National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium.
9 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
A general view inside of Hard Rock Stadium prior to a game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan.19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
10 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
The Marching Hundred band plays for fans inside the stadium before the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026,
11 / 11
See best photos from national championship game as Indiana faces Miami
The University of Miami band prepares inside the stadium before the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
My god, this is the reason? This is the ACC’s best shot?
This is the reason the ACC and Notre Dame, and the Big 12, have abandoned the SEC plan of 16 teams after all were firmly behind it as recently as January? To throw their lot into a watered-down playoff that would’ve featured James Madison playing at Alabama in the first round of a 24-team playoff in 2025. Or Army at Alabama in 2024.
An opportunity? Every FBS team already has an opportunity to win the whole thing.
Some just know how to actually pull it off.
Indiana, forever the armpit of college football, won it all last season. A year after winning 11 games in 2024, and reaching the CFP.
Indiana found the right coach, who hit on the right philosophy and landed the right quarterback, and the next thing you know, the Hoosiers were invading South Beach while polishing off their 27th win in 29 games under coach Curt Cignetti.
If that doesn’t tell you anyone can win the national title, nothing will.
Say this much for the ACC, they’ve learned from the Big Ten — learned how to stab their partner in the back. Learned how to walk away from an — ahem — alliance of like minds at the first thought of saving itself.
Imagine thinking a 24-team playoff will save a conference. Imagine thinking it won’t devalue the regular season, college football’s lone leg up on the mighty NFL and its antiseptic, no frills formula that sucks the oxygen from every fall weekend.
And for what? So Netflix and Amazon can fight over UNLV at Boise State in the first round? Amazon will pay a billion annually for the NFL, everyone. It won’t pay squat for Syracuse at Arizona State.
Both games would've been part of a 24-team field in 2024.
I have no idea who has convinced the brilliant men and women leading these fine institutions of higher education that Netflix and Amazon — to say nothing of ESPN and Fox or CBS and NBC — will give hundreds of millions for these first round games.
ESPN has already said it would like the CFP to stay at 12 or 14 games, and doesn’t want it larger than 16. You know who wants it larger than 16? Fox, the Big Ten’s main television partner.
One Power conference athletic director told USA TODAY Sports that after a “pitiful and unserious bid” for the first 12-team CFP, Fox realized the value in the sport — especially with the three-year growth spurt of the Big Ten.
And now Fox wants in, badly. As it currently stands, Fox only gets CFP games if ESPN subcontracts them. Which, of course, explains ESPN's firm line of no more than 16.
So we get the 24-team pitch from the Big Ten — which started this sojourn on its own while talking about four automatic qualifiers for the Big Ten and SEC. Then magically moved to 24 at-large spots when it was obvious they’d made a mistake, and needed something to swing the others to their side.
It’s almost like former commissioner Kevin Warren is still around at the Big Ten offices, throwing out ideas like an Alliance and spring football and asking players to play two seasons in eight months.
The question is, what’s the long game for the Big Ten? Is it simply appeasing Fox?
Because if the playoff goes to 24 teams, any additional revenue will be shared with players. So how much will each university actually clear?
Are we really headed down the dangerous road of doubling the CFP field, of endangering a near bulletproof product by watering it down, just to appease some suits in Los Angeles who blew it during the first bid to televise the 12-team CFP?
The Big Ten wouldn’t pull a fast one again, would it?
Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.