These two ACC football coaches support CFP selection process changes

A new seeding policy for the College Football Playoff changes how the 2025 playoff bracket will be created, including the highest-ranked conference champions in the playoff but, unlike last year, not guaranteeing a first-round bye unless they are in the top four.

Additional conversations, and disagreements, have taken place about the possibility of multiple autobids and an expanded playoff field. A pair of ACC coaches think there’s still work to be done to improve the format.

N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren and SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said last week at ACC Kickoff they support overhauling the system.

Doeren is “not an automatic qualifier guy” and believes everything should be settled on the field with selections including as little human interference as possible.

He is fine with scrapping league championship games in favor of every team playing 12 games per season. Postseason rankings should then be based on number of wins, strength of schedule, quality wins and other similar factors. Some years, one conference may have one or two teams in the playoff field. Other years, it may have four or five.

“I just think that’s teams lobbying for their conference, instead of what’s best for college football,” Doeren said. “Get the best 16 teams in the playoffs, or 20, or whatever that number is, and let them go fight and play. … “I think taking the human element out of it, or giving the committee a better algorithm to use, whatever that may be — We complicate things that shouldn’t be that complicated. It’s not that hard.”

Doeren said FBS should model the FCS Playoff, which does not rely on league championship games. It bases the field on 10 regular season champions and 14 at-large bids. Doeren was part of two FCS Playoff title appearances, including one championship, as an assistant at Montana.

“You had to be in the top 12 or top 16. I’ve been a part of it where it wasn’t messy,” Doeren said. “The only team that’s mad is the one that gets left out that’s the lowest ranked. I think people can live with the best 15 or 16 teams being in there.”

Lashlee called for the sport to “reimagine” the playoff to ensure players and fans are prioritized. He supports 16 teams, giving access to more teams and conferences, especially after what SMU faced last season.

There were concerns that SMU, which was 11-1 and 8-0 in ACC play prior to the conference championship, would be left out of the playoff field if it lost to Clemson in favor of three-loss Alabama. The Crimson Tide did not make the SEC title game. The Mustangs were the last team in, despite falling to the Tigers for the ACC Championship, but did not advance beyond the first round.

“The committee has a really hard decision. We were up close and personal with that a year ago,” Lashlee said. “I respect what they have to do, but, honestly, it’s a situation that’s set up for failure because there’s human bias and there’s always going to be. If we could remove the committee from the situation, it would help.”

Prior to the playoff, FBS college football used the BCS system. It was used from 1998 to 2013 and quantified teams using a mathematical formula that included strength of schedule, quality wins, computer ratings and poll averages. It selected the top two teams that would participate in the national championship, along with the matchups for the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl.

The BCS system received criticism for its methodology and the exclusionary nature, which often left out teams from the six automatic qualifying conferences and led to an antitrust lawsuit. The playoff, which replaced the BCS in 2014, has experienced its own fair share of criticism due to allegations of favoritism toward the SEC and Big Ten and inconsistency in its standards.

The most notable example came after Florida State was left out of the 2023 playoff despite going 13-0 and winning the ACC title, in part due to quarterback Jordan Travis’ injury two weeks before the conference title game.

“Most people want to see things decided on the field, so let’s let it happen that way,” Lashlee said. “I don’t think there’s any question that if it stays at 12, [the ACC is] every year a multi-bid league. Miami should have been last year at 10-2. There’s no question they were one of the top 12 teams in America. But it does get tough, especially when you have a human committee making decisions. It’s a hard job. It’s set up for failure. They’re great people. They do the best they can.”

Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh coach, said winning the conference title was the only guaranteed way of making the playoff.

The coaches’ comments came days after ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said this season’s playoff changes were “absolutely in the best interest of college football.”

Phillips said the adjustments recognize the on-field regular season results and the importance of conference championships, saying fairness and access to competition are imperative.

“I’ve always believed in rewarding conference champions,” Phillips said. “If you’re in a really good conference — like we have across the P-4 — and you’re also part of the G-6, conference championships matter. That’s been consistent in my five years, that they should be rewarded.”

The commissioner also addressed concerns about the selection process and the committee. Phillips said he has faith and confidence in those set to make decisions at the end of the season.

“I know how difficult that is. These are honorable, honest individuals with great integrity,” Phillips said. “I do like we’re reviewing the protocol for selection, and I think that will help, but I want to stay committed to access and fairness to all of college football, not only the ACC, and protect our [automatic qualification].”

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Jadyn Watson-Fisher

The News & Observer