ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips releases statement on Notre Dame College Football Playoff snub, callout of conference

In the aftermath of the College Football Playoff bracket reveal, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua has gone after the ACC. He says the ACC has done “permanent damage” to their relationship in an attempt to get Miami into the 12-team field. Notre Dame plays five ACC teams a season in football, while being a member of the conference in other sports.

These comments from Bevacqua came on Monday, only for ACC commissioner Jim Phillips to respond. Phillips released a statement on the matter to On3’s Brett McMurphy.

“The University of Notre Dame is an incredibly valued member of the ACC and there is tremendous respect and appreciation for the entire institution,” Phillips said. “With that said, when it comes to football, we have a responsibility to support and advocate for all 17 of our football-playing member institutions, and I stand behind our conference efforts to do just that leading up to the College Football Playoff Committee selections on Sunday.

“At no time was it suggested by the ACC that Notre Dame was not a worthy candidate for inclusion in the field. We are thrilled for the University of Miami while also understanding and appreciating the significant disappointment of the Notre Dame players, coaches and program.”

Miami will travel to Kyle Field on Dec. 20, facing Texas A&M in the first round. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET and 11 a.m. local time. Notre Dame’s season is done, declining an opportunity to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against BYU.

Pete Bevacqua expresses ‘permanent damage’ done by ACC

Bevacqua made an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, discussing Notre Dame getting snubbed from the College Football Playoff. The issue for him is not with Miami, the team seemingly replacing the Irish. Instead, Bevacqua believes the ACC attempting to knock down Notre Dame while promoting Miami was a bad look.

“I have tremendous respect for Miami, great team, great school,” Bevacqua said. “Their athletic director, Dan Radakovich, is a good friend. We were mystified by the actions of the conference, to attack their biggest business partner in football and a member of their conference in 24 of our other sports. I wouldn’t be honest with you if I didn’t say that they have certainly done permanent damage to the relationship between the conference and Notre Dame.”

As usual, five ACC opponents are on the 2026 schedule for Notre Dame. Of those, only one will take place outside of South Bend. North Carolina will host the Irish on Oct. 3. Four others, including Miami, will make their way to Notre Dame Stadium throughout the season.