ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips Responds to Notre Dame’s Recent Comments

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Notre Dame’s anger over missing the 12-team College Football Playoff spilled into public view this week, and the ACC quickly found itself defending the way it handled the final stretch of the selection process.

The spark came from Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua, who spoke openly about his frustration that Miami landed a playoff berth while Notre Dame did not. His message was direct, and he made it clear he believed the conference’s push for the Hurricanes crossed a line. He even described the impact on the ACC–Notre Dame relationship as “permanent damage.”

That criticism prompted ACC commissioner Jim Phillips to issue a response aimed at cooling things down without backing away from the league’s strategy.

“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.”

Notre Dame’s frustration centered on how openly the ACC worked to highlight Miami’s résumé. The league repeatedly showcased the Hurricanes’ Week 1 win over the Irish, using social platforms and ACC Network replays to make the point in the final days before the field was announced.

Bevacqua saw that push as excessive, and his comments reflected just how irritated Notre Dame was with the approach. Phillips countered by insisting that the conference never tried to diminish the Irish as a playoff contender.

“At no time was it suggested by the ACC that Notre Dame was not a worthy candidate for inclusion in the field,” Phillips said. “We are thrilled for the University of Miami while also understanding and appreciating the significant disappointment of the Notre Dame players, coaches and program.”

Notre Dame’s response went beyond words. After learning it would miss the playoff, the school turned down any bowl with ACC ties. The Irish haven’t skipped postseason play since 2016, when they stumbled to a 4–8 finish under Brian Kelly.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips Comments on Notre Dame’s Call Outs

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