Pete Bevacqua: Notre Dame was 'definitely being targeted' by ACC in CFP debate

Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua used his media opportunity on Tuesday to claim that his program was ‘definitely being targeted’ by the ACC in the weeks leading up to the College Football Playoff selection show.

It was no secret that the final at-large spot in the CFP was between Miami and Notre Dame. In the weeks leading up to the final rankings being released, the Fighting Irish remained ahead of the ‘Canes. In the rankings that mattered however, Miami jumped Notre Dame, thanks in large part to its 27-24 victory over the Irish on Aug. 31.

Due to Miami‘s win over Notre Dame, the ACC’s social media accounts campaigned hard for the Hurricanes to sneak in the Playoff over the program they defeated. This occurred, leading Bevacqua to call foul.

“We were definitely being targeted,” Bevacqua said. “For better and for worse, we have a different relationship with the ACC than any other team in college football, other than the teams in the ACC. We’re in the ACC for 24 sports. We have a scheduling agreement with the ACC, and again, the ACC does wonderful things for Notre Dame. We bring tremendous football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you’d go out of your way to try and damage us in the process.”

Pete Bevacqua campaigns for 16 teams in College Football Playoff

Notre Dame was tabbed as the First Team Out of the Playoff, followed by BYU as the Second Team Out. The two programs were reportedly set to face off in the Pop-Tarts Bowl before Notre Dame declined an invite and decided to sit out of the postseason. After claiming that the ACC targeted them, Bevacqua went in on the format and process of selection for the College Football Playoff.

“[The conference commissioners] all know how I feel about the format,” Bevacqua continued. “Four teams, 12 teams, 16 teams, 1,000 teams. It should be 16 teams in my option, with five automatic qualifiers and 11 at-large.

“This year, 16 would have been perfect. Notre Dame, Texas, Vanderbilt, and whoever else is in there. Year-by-year, you’re never going to have the same data points each year. It’s never going to work out perfectly, whether you have four, 12, or 16. What I like about 16 is that it does create for more opportunity and it creates more narratives around schools, and yet preserves the integrity and importance of the regular season.”

For now however, the College Football Playoff is capped at 12 teams. Miami will now prepare for its First Round clash at Texas A&M, while Notre Dame licks its wounds and prepares for next season.