Enhanced replay was a welcome addition to ACC broadcasts last season, and the league is expanding it for the 2026 college football season.
As noted by ESPN’s David Hale, the ACC became the first league to give viewers behind-the-scenes access to the conference’s replay center in Charlotte, North Carolina, during in-game reviews. Last year, the conference showcased it during 27 game broadcasts. This season, the ACC will have 27 enhanced replay games in the first three weeks.
“Innovation remains a hallmark of the ACC, including being the first conference to provide enhanced replay transparency last season,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said in a press release. “Following a successful first year, we are proud to further elevate this fan-friendly initiative by bringing it to even more games in 2026. We will continue investing in technology that strengthen competitive integrity, improve operations, and enhance the student-athlete and fan experience.”
The ACC will also add four new cameras to its game-day operations to provide further “over-the-shoulder” visibility for audiences, making it easier to see what replay officials are looking at.
This is what it looks and sounds like when an ACC ref talks over a replay review with the ACC Game Day Operations Center. 🏈🦓📺🎙️ #CFB pic.twitter.com/PxvF2WDksM
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 13, 2025
The league had previously announced that Gary Patterson, a 30-year veteran of football officiating, would be its new head of officials, replacing Al Riveron, who stepped down from the position.
“I think it’s cool as a flat-out sports fan to see how those decisions are made,” Phillips said at the ACC’s kickoff event in July. “You want to hear what’s happening, why that decision on the field is either going to be upheld or overturned. I hope we can have maybe even a few more camera angles that will help us because we want to get it right.”
Viewers got a chance to see and listen to the ACC Operations Center when an apparent touchdown catch by Florida State’s Duce Robinson was overturned and ruled incomplete.
“We just can’t thank the ACC enough, for allowing us to listen to that conversation,” Bob Wischusen pic.twitter.com/ssx325MNvc
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 27, 2025
It wasn’t just fans and broadcasters taking note of how well it worked last season. The Big 12 will also offer an enhanced replay system during broadcasts this year.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.