ACC Announces New Conference Tournament Format For 2025

Image credit: (Photo by Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images)

The Atlantic Coast Conference on Wednesday morning announced its new 16-team, single-elimination conference tournament format, which it will employ starting this year.

The new-look ACC tournament is a departure from the round-robin format the conference had utilized since 2006. It also marks the second time that the league expanded the field, growing it from 10 to 12 teams in 2017 and now to all 16 programs.

The ACC Tournament will begin on May 20 in Durham, North Carolina and conclude with the conference title game on May 25.

Seeding for the new ACC Tournament will be based on regular-season performance with the top four seeds receiving a double-bye into the quarterfinal round. Seeds five through eight will earn a bye into the second round while seeds 9-16 will begin play in the opening round.

The changes to the format were a byproduct of a vote by ACC coaches as well as a groundswell of support from student-athletes, according to Wednesday’s release.

“There’s once again tremendous excitement surrounding ACC Baseball and today’s announcement will bring an improved championship experience for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans alike,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement. “Nationally, the ACC is once again well-represented in the preseason polls and award lists. After what we know will be a highly competitive regular season, we look forward to showcasing all 16 baseball teams in Durham this May.”

The changes to the ACC’s postseason format come at a time of significant change for the college baseball power.

The league added former Pac-12 programs Cal and Stanford to its ranks over the offseason after it produced eight NCAA Tournament teams in 2024, including a record-tying half of the College World Series field.

The ACC appears exceptionally well-suited to carry that momentum into 2025. Seven teams (No. 5 Virginia, No. 6 Florida State, No. 8 Clemson, No. 10 Duke, No. 12 North Carolina, No. 16 NC State and No. 17 Wake Forest) were included in Baseball America’s Preseason Top 25 while 10 were included in BA’s Preseason Projected Field of 64.

The conference also has arguably as good a chance as any year to produce the first overall pick in the draft since 2013 with Florida State lefty Jamie Arnold, Clemson center fielder Cam Cannarella and North Carolina catcher Luke Stevenson all considered to be in contention. Arnold was the only unanimous selection to Baseball America’s Preseason Collegiate All-American Teams and was tabbed Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

No ACC team has won the national title since Virginia in 2015. This year could provide another great chance to change that though with what is expected to be ample tournament representation.