Report: Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips hold 'highly positive and productive' meeting after College Football Playoff snub

After weeks of bitterness between Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips following the Irish’s snub from the College Football Playoff in favor of Miami, the two reportedly met in New York City on Thursday. The meeting appears to have been productive.

Per Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, Bevacqua and Phillips met for nearly two hours in a productive gathering that covered a range of issues. Following the ACC’s successful campaign against Notre Dame (which Bevacqua took offense to) for Miami to make the College Football Playoff, the Irish’s AD claimed that the conference had hurt its relationship with the program.

Of note in light of the very public situation around the CFP selections: Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips met in NYC on Thursday for nearly two hours in a productive gathering that covered a range of issues.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 19, 2025

Notre Dame is a member of the ACC in every sport except football and hockey. However, Bevacqua went scorched earth on the conference on the Dec. 8 edition of ‘The Dan Patrick Show‘ following Notre Dame‘s snub from the Playoff.

“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.”

Bevacqua added that Notre Dame does not publicly tear down peer institutions. He said he was stunned to find the school singled out by a league it competes with, and financially supports, across nearly all sports.

“We didn’t appreciate the fact that we were singled out repeatedly and compared to Miami, not by Miami, but by the conference,” he continued. “People might disagree with us, but that’s just not something we choose to do and wouldn’t choose to do in the future.”

Bevacqua took offense to ACC social media accounts ‘targeting’ Notre Dame

Leaning up to the College Football Playoff selection show, it was no secret that the final at-large spot in the bracket was between Miami and Notre Dame. In the weeks prior 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 during a press conference on Dec. 9. “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.”

It appears as if cooler heads have now prevailed. Bevacqua and Phillips could be on track to repair both their relationship and the relationship between Notre Dame and the ACC.