ACC Commish Releases Statement in Response to Notre Dame AD
By: Gavin Oliver December 8, 2025

The Atlantic Coast Conference’s commissioner has responded to Notre Dame’s athletic director calling out the conference.

On Monday morning, Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua took aim at the ACC and didn’t hold back in his comments while discussing the Fighting Irish being left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff in favor of ACC team Miami.

Bevacqua went so far as to say the ACC has caused “permanent damage” to the relationship between the conference and the Fighting Irish, who are a member of the conference in all sports but football.

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips has since released a statement on Notre Dame in response to Bevacqua’s criticism.

“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.”

The ACC took to social media to politic for the inclusion of Miami, with the focus being centered on the Hurricanes’ 27-24 home win over the Irish in Week 1. The ACC Network also replayed that game several times over the weekend leading up to the final rankings reveal.

Bevacqua was livid over some of the tactics used by the ACC in an effort to get the Hurricanes in the playoff field over the Irish.

Phillips added in his statement that “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,” Phillips said.

After the CFP snub, Notre Dame refused to play in a bowl game with ACC tie-ins, electing to opt out instead. It’s the first time Notre Dame will not compete in a postseason game since 2016, when the Irish went 4-8 under Brian Kelly.