Notre Dame's CFP Snub Sparks Controversy and Criticism

The exclusion of Notre Dame from the College Football Playoff has ignited considerable controversy. Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua criticized the ACC, claiming the conference's social media campaign was aimed at promoting Miami over Notre Dame, stating, 'We felt targeted by the ACC.' He expressed disappointment over the ACC's actions and indicated that the relationship between Notre Dame and the ACC is strained, implying potential consequences.

Bevacqua was shocked by the CFP snub, asserting, 'It boggles my mind that when we stepped off that plane after the Stanford game, our season was over.' In response, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark labeled Bevacqua's behavior as 'egregious,' particularly for criticizing the ACC, which had supported Notre Dame during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yormark stated, 'I think he is totally out of bounds in his approach.' Meanwhile, Kirk Herbstreit suggested that the playoff structure needs expansion, advocating for a 16-team format to ensure that top programs like Notre Dame are included.

This narrative highlights the escalating tensions surrounding college football's playoff system and the implications for major programs like Notre Dame, which opted out of bowl contention following their CFP exclusion.