ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips Blasts CFP: ‘I Was Stunned’ by Miami’s Drop Below Alabama
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips didn’t hold back during his appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay, criticizing the College Football Playoff (CFP) Committee for ranking No. 11 Alabama ahead of No. 12 Miami. His frustration stemmed from what he called an “unbelievable” eight-spot swing between the two programs following the final weekend of regular-season play.
“I was stunned to see Miami, who went into the last weekend as the sixth-ranked team in the country, go to a top-25 team at Syracuse, lose by 4, and fall six spots, while an Alabama team played Auburn, a 2-6 team, and jumped up two spots,” Phillips said.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips shared his thoughts on Miami being ranked behind Alabama in the latest CFP rankings: pic.twitter.com/VbpaA0aSeb
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) December 7, 2024
Miami’s Record vs. Alabama’s Surge
Miami, who finished the regular season with a 10-2 record, lost two of its final three games, including a road loss to Georgia Tech and a narrow defeat against Syracuse. However, Phillips highlighted the quality of Miami’s opponents, noting Syracuse’s top-25 status and Georgia Tech’s impressive 7-3 record behind quarterback Haynes King.
“Miami has two losses all year,” Phillips emphasized. “A loss at Georgia Tech, who’s 7-3, and to a 9-3 Syracuse team. The committee has repeatedly stated they value winning, and that’s exactly what our teams have done.”
In contrast, Alabama (11-1) capitalized on a matchup against a struggling Auburn team, yet managed to climb two spots in the rankings. Phillips argued that this inconsistency unfairly punished Miami while rewarding Alabama for a less challenging final game.
ACC’s Competitive Record
Phillips also pointed to the ACC’s strong performance against other Power Five conferences to bolster Miami’s case.
“We’ve had a winning record against the Big Ten. We’ve had a winning record against the Big 12. We’ve won more games against the SEC than any other conference,” he said. “For Miami to be leapfrogged in the last weekend, eight spots, just doesn’t make sense.”
The ACC Commissioner also compared Miami’s situation to Michigan, which lost to Ohio State but dropped only four spots in the rankings. He called out the CFP Committee’s inconsistencies, stating, “Michigan lost to a 6-5 team and fell four spots. It’s hard to reconcile that with what happened to Miami.”
A Broader Debate
This isn’t the first time Phillips has voiced concerns about how the CFP treats ACC teams. Earlier in the week, he described Miami’s drop as “shocking” and argued that the Hurricanes deserved better. Miami quarterback Cam Ward also criticized the CFP Committee, taking a jab at perceived SEC bias in the rankings.
As the debate around Miami’s ranking continues, Phillips’ comments have fueled broader discussions about fairness and transparency in the CFP process. For the ACC, the rankings controversy underscores the need for a more consistent evaluation of teams across conferences.
In Phillips’ eyes, Miami’s fall was more than a ranking adjustment—it was a missed opportunity to reward a program that played and succeeded against tough competition throughout the season.