Is Pete Bevacqua finished yet?
He's been airing his grievances for several days now and his frequent target has been the ACC, gaslighting commissioner Jim Phillips almost to the point of bullying. Somehow, Bevacqua has decided that the ACC and its social media campaign is to blame for Notre Dame not gaining entry into the College Football Playoff 12-team bracket.
Need I remind you once again that Notre Dame lost to Miami during the regular season and when the committee made their final decision, the result of that game was referenced as the reason why.
Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua on the ACC's social media campaigns:
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) December 9, 2025
"It has created damage. That's not just me speaking; people a lot more important at this university than me feel the same way." pic.twitter.com/6YkCzHTCKR
Picking on the easiest target
In the playground known as college football, the ACC is the easiest target of the Power 4 conferences. Most would argue Phillips is a fairly weak leader. Conference teams have had success in legal actions against the ACC. A five-loss Duke team just won the conference title in a game that drew about 40,000 to a stadium that holds almost 75,000. We all know the flaws of the ACC. It is what it is.
And that's why Bevacqua has spent the better part of the past week deriding the conference and threatening to leave. He knows the ACC really can't fight back. Phillips had every right to promote a full-time conference member over a side piece. If Miami makes a run to the CFP championship, that payout is distributed among the conference. If Notre Dame makes a run to the CFP championship, that payout goes straight into Notre Dame's pockets. The ACC is already sitting at a major financial disadvantage compared to the Big Ten and SEC. Notre Dame, as "great" of a business partner as it claims to be, the Irish's success in the CFP doesn't help the ACC with that deficit.
Let’s have some blind resume fun…
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 11, 2025
Team A: if they win a national championship they will split the $20 million payout with you.
Team B: if they win a national championship they will keep the $20 million payout all to themselves
Which team will you promote???
Bevacqua avoids the obvious conflict
Most people believe Miami and Notre Dame deserved to make the playoffs over the team that has the most question marks — Alabama. There's only one team in the CFP with three losses and only one team in the CFP that has a lost to a team that didn't qualify for a bowl. That's Alabama. The Crimson Tide also nearly got shut out in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia. That's coming off the heels of nearly losing to a 5-7 Auburn team with an interim coach.
But Bevacqua isn't going to go after Alabama or the SEC because he and Greg Sankey are friends. Plus, he knows the SEC will fight back and won't pull any punches in the process. Instead, Bevacqua continues to target the ACC and Phillips, because, like all bullies, he talks tough, but doesn't want to pick on someone that will fight back.