ACC Championship Game Ends After 2026 With Playoff Expansion
A new 24-team College Football Playoff format will replace conference titles, with the final ACC contest set for December 5 in Charlotte.
By Naomi Tesfaye ·
The 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game will be the last of its kind. On Monday, Nov. 9, the College Football Playoff and ESPN agreed to a five-year contract that expands the postseason field from 12 teams to 24. The deal values at nearly $1.7 billion, according to sources cited by ESPN.
The new format eliminates the championship games for the Power 4 conferences. The ACC, Southeastern Conference, Big 12, and Big 10 will no longer hold separate title games. Instead, the 24-team playoff will begin after the 2027 regular season. The field will consist of 19 at-large bids, the Power 4 conference champions determined by their leagues, and the highest-ranked Group of 6 team.
Charlotte, N.C., will host the final ACC title game. The Queen City has held 15 of the last 16 ACC Championship Games at Bank of America Stadium. The 22nd annual event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, at noon. The college football regular season will start on Week Zero, the weekend before Labor Day, and conclude on Thanksgiving weekend. The national championship game remains set for Jan. 24, 2028.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said the conference championship has been an important part of the group's history. He expressed appreciation for the student-athletes, coaches, institutions, fans, and host communities that contributed to its success. Phillips noted that Charlotte has embraced the event in a special way. The commissioner thanked the Carolina Panthers, Tepper Sports & Entertainment, the Charlotte Sports Foundation, and the City of Charlotte for their partnership and hospitality. He added that the expanded playoff presents a new chapter for college football and offers more opportunities for ACC programs to compete on the biggest stage.
