Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua is shredding the Atlantic Coast Conference following the selection of the College Football Playoff 12-team field. The Fighting Irish, who were ranked inside the top-12 in every ranking leading up to the ultimate field selection, were left out at the last second, to the shock of many fans and insiders, in favor of Miami. Notre Dame later declined its invitation to a bowl game, and there was much shock and disappointment around the Fighting Irish program and its fan base following its exclusion from this year's CFP.
The hottest topic of discussion heading into the CFP selection was between Miami, Alabama, and Notre Dame, which were three programs essentially fighting for two spots.