Notre Dame didn’t just miss out on the College Football Playoff — it also ignited a very public dispute at the highest levels of college athletics.
Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua has been vocal in recent days, pushing back hard against the ACC and believing the league actively worked behind the scenes to boost Miami’s case for a spot in the new 12-team playoff field. That frustration, however, hasn’t exactly been met with sympathy from fellow conference leaders.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark openly criticized Bevacqua on Tuesday, calling his comments and approach unacceptable. Speaking to Sports Business Journal, Yormark didn’t mince words.
“I think his behavior has been egregious,” Yormark said. “He’s totally out of bounds in his approach. If he were in the room, I’d tell him the same thing. This is part of the system we all agree to.”
In other words, once Selection Sunday arrives, the results are final — even when they sting.
Why Notre Dame Was Left Out
Despite a strong finish to the season, Notre Dame’s playoff résumé had a few problems the selection committee couldn’t ignore.
The biggest issue came early in the year. Losses to Miami and Texas A&M in the first two weeks lingered on the Irish’s profile all season long. While Notre Dame rebounded and played well down the stretch, the committee clearly weighed those early stumbles heavily.
The head-to-head result against Miami proved decisive. Both teams finished 10–2, but Miami’s Week 1 win over Notre Dame gave the Hurricanes the edge when the final rankings were set.
Notre Dame’s independence also came into play. Without a conference championship game, the Irish lacked one more high-profile data point that conference teams can use to boost their resumes late in the season.
Finally, BYU’s loss in its conference title game reshuffled the playoff picture, opening the door for Miami to be evaluated directly against Notre Dame — a comparison that ultimately did not favor the Irish.
The Bigger Picture
Notre Dame’s exclusion highlights the ongoing tension between independent programs and conference-aligned schools in the playoff era. While the Irish remain one of college football’s most recognizable brands, moments like this reinforce the challenges that come with standing alone in a system dominated by conference champions and commissioners with aligned interests.
For now, the decision is set, the debate is loud, and Notre Dame is once again left wondering if independence is worth the playoff price.