Coaches discuss playoff models at ACC meetings

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Aside from the drama at this year’s ACC meetings revolving around Florida State’s conference alignment status, coaches and administrators this week have had other pressing issues worth discussing.

Chief among them: the format of forthcoming college-football playoffs.

After talking with officials at their schools all throughout this month, conference commissioners will meet in late June to determine the path forward for the sport’s altered postseason.

If ACC coaches were given the task of picking the setup, they would go with a model that calls for four conference champions to participate in the two-round playoff.

"We think being a champion is very important," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "Being a conference champion is no small task. Not only are you having to get through your conference, but you’ve got to turn around and get through your conference game -- which all of us but one do."

The Big 12 does not currently have a conference-championship game.

FSU home basketball schedule announced

FSU’s men’s basketball team will begin its ACC Tournament title defense with games against nine teams at the Donald L. Tucker Center during the 2012-13 season. The Seminoles’ home schedule was announced Monday.

The slate includes conference games against Duke, North Carolina and Miami. The three teams also traveled to Tallahassee last season. FSU was 2-1 at home against them, losing once to Duke.

FSU also will host a game against rival Florida. The Seminoles lost to the Gators in Gainesville last December.

Additionally, FSU will play Minnesota at home Nov. 27 as part of the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Seminoles lost on the road to Michigan State in last year’s Challenge. They are 2-1 all-time against the Gophers.

As had been previously announced, they also will host games as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament that concludes with games at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Miami gets Michigan State

As part of Monday’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge announcement, Miami learned it would be playing Michigan State on Nov. 28.

Spetman, Fisher to miss time

FSU athletics director Randy Spetman and Fisher will miss parts of this year’s meetings. Spetman, who had arrived at Amelia Island on Sunday night, missed Monday because he was giving a speech at the Air Force Academy. He’ll be back Tuesday.