ACC Championship Football Developments and Future Changes

The ACC is set to implement changes to its football conference championship game tiebreaker rules as part of its transition to a nine-game league schedule in 2026. This decision follows a contentious season where the current tiebreaker nearly kept the conference out of the College Football Playoff.

Miami, with a 6-2 conference record, was excluded from the championship game due to a tiebreaker loss to Duke, who also had a 6-2 record but a superior overall record. Duke went on to play in the ACC title game but ended the season unranked.

The ACC has not disclosed the specifics of the new tiebreaker policy, but it is expected to factor in College Football Playoff rankings after head-to-head matchups, a method currently used by the Group of Six American Conference.

Additionally, the ACC's shift to a nine-game schedule will begin with a transition year in 2026, where only 12 out of 17 teams will play nine conference games, while the remaining five will play eight due to scheduling obligations.

Starting in 2027, all teams will be required to play nine conference games, plus a 10th game against a Power Four opponent. These changes aim to enhance the competitive structure of the league as it seeks to improve its chances in the playoff landscape.