The ACC’s summer kickoff in Charlotte had a much different feel this year than it did in 2025. Last year’s event was swallowed whole by the arrival of Bill Belichick and the avalanche of attention that came with him. This time, the conversation shifted back to the league’s actual business: tiebreakers, playoff access, schedule changes, and the ongoing push for Congress to step in and help steady college sports.
That was the backdrop when ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips took the podium on Wednesday for his annual State of ACC Football address. He opened the three days of media availability with the usual commissioner talk, but he also made a few notable points along the way.
Phillips came out in support of the Protect College Sports Act and made clear he sees legislation as necessary if college sports are going to have any real structure going forward. He described the situation in stark terms, saying, “Self-governance to me means no governance.” The Big 12 is also backing the bill, while the SEC and Big 10 are not.
He also introduced the ACC’s new tiebreaker system, with more detail to come later from Tar Heel Blog writer Matt Ferenchick.
On the playoff front, Phillips again said he would prefer the College Football Playoff to grow to 24 teams. In his view, that would essentially put every top-25 team in the field. He also noted that if any change is going to happen for next season, it has to be decided by December 1 of this year.
Phillips voiced support for the “five-in-five” rule as well, and said he was disappointed by the resistance to it and by efforts from some parties to sue in order to get more playing time.
Another topic was the ACC’s replay room presentation on select games. Phillips said the league plans to expand that view, though he didn’t spell out exactly how. He said the ACC was pleased with the reception so far and hinted that more enhancements are coming.
UNC’s turn in Charlotte comes later in the week, with Belichick, Melkart Abou Jaoude, Christo Kelly, and Jordan Shipp scheduled to meet with the media and appear across ACC and national platforms on Friday.
In Other News...
Former UNC Player Makes Surprising Push For Another College Season
A familiar name is back in the eligibility conversation, and it could end up mattering far beyond Chapel Hill. A group of college basketball players is suing the NCAA over the new 5-for-5 rule, arguing for an extra season of competition eligibility, and the case has drawn in former Tar Heel Cade Tyson after his time at North Carolina and Minnesota. Tyson entered the transfer portal after the 2025-2026 season, and the possibility of another year has already put him back on the radar for programs looking for proven scoring help.
The lawsuit is aimed at the NCAAs decision not to grant an additional year to this years senior class under the new rule, which makes the outcome especially relevant for players whose college careers have already taken a few turns. Tysons situation is a reminder of how quickly roster plans can change in the modern game, and why a ruling here could ripple into the transfer market before the next season even gets moving. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Belichick Faces Huge Pressure In UNC's Defensive Rebuild
North Carolinas defensive rebuild has already started to take shape, and the linebacker room is one of the clearest places where the changes show up. New starters are expected there, with Peyton Seelmann and Derek McDonald stepping into bigger roles as the Tar Heels try to stabilize a unit that will look different from last season. For Steve Belichick, who serves as both linebackers coach and defensive coordinator, that makes this group especially important because so much of the defenses direction will flow through how quickly these pieces come together.
The challenge is not just finding the right starters, but making sure the position holds up once the games begin to pile up. McDonald is expected to be a central voice in the middle, while the rest of the depth chart remains less settled, which puts even more pressure on Belichicks teaching and development. North Carolina does not need a perfect defense to make progress, but it does need this rebuild to move beyond survival mode if the unit is going to become more than just functional in 2026. [Read more 🡒]