Overview
- Notre Dame fell from No. 9 to No. 11 in the final CFP rankings, missing the 12‑team field and subsequently opting out of bowl consideration.
- AD Pete Bevacqua blasted the process as a waste of time and alleged the ACC worked against Notre Dame to elevate Miami’s case.
- ACC commissioner Jim Phillips rejected the accusation, calling Notre Dame an ‘incredibly valued’ member while pledging to advocate for all 17 football‑playing schools.
- Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark called Bevacqua’s response ‘egregious’ and ‘out of bounds,’ citing head‑to‑head with Miami as a transparent factor once the teams were evaluated side by side.
- Commentary framed the episode as proof that the expanded playoff prioritizes money and spectacle, with ESPN’s Paul Finebaum deriding Notre Dame’s reaction.