Yormark said he expects ACC commissioner Jim Phillips to emphasize the same pro-5+11 stance when his conference starts its media days later this month. He also said to ESPN he is "relatively confident" the playoff will expand to 16 teams when its new media rights contract begins in the 2026 season.

As he enters his three-year anniversary on the job, Yormark is now among college sports' power brokers. And he remains bullish on the 16-team Big 12, as the college landscape goes through more change with revenue sharing with student-athletes and future College Football Playoff expansion.

The Big 12 isn't in favor of a proposal that includes twice as many guaranteed playoff spots for the Big Ten and SEC than for the ACC and Big 12.