As Notre Dame went scorched earth on the ACC for their failure to make the playoffs, I wondered did the ACC really single out the Irish to such a degree that the response was warranted.
What better way to find what the ACC really did than to scan the ACC’s football social media page.
No singling out Notre Dame there.
Some light reading for your halftime pleasure. pic.twitter.com/KtXcCRXvh6
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) December 7, 2025
This is literally factual, and promotes a full ACC football member, but makes no mention of Notre Dame not being a deserving playoff team.
One of these is not like the others…
pic.twitter.com/vFNs5OyXUH
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) December 7, 2025
A post promoting Duke, no mention of Notre Dame. There was one about Virginia, too.
Secure the ACC title + the ranked win = CFP case made. pic.twitter.com/OqKztVnX0S
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) December 6, 2025
Jim Phillips statements on Miami being a deserving playoff team. No mention of Notre Dame.
“Miami is a CFP Top 10 Team, period. When you look at the metrics, the results, the eye test, all of the things that are really important, Miami is absolutely a top 10 CFP team.”
Commissioner Phillips on why @CanesFootball is undoubtedly a CFP worthy team. pic.twitter.com/cK9549knTp
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) December 6, 2025
There was a repost from Miami’s athletic page, and a couple of posts comparing Miami and Notre Dame, but the only thing that maybe was excessive was this, as reported by ESPN. That doesn’t sound like an ACC issue; take it up with ESPN.
ACC Network, whose programming isn’t controlled by the conference, also replayed the Miami-Notre Dame game more than a dozen times Thursday and Friday, heading into championship weekend, despite Miami not participating in the league’s title game.
Everybody who watches college knews the result of that game anyway.
The ACC has often been criticized for not advocating for its schools. They softly did it this time, and Jim Phillips not backing down on that is one of his best moments as commissioner.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement Monday that the conference stands behind its efforts “to support and advocate for all 17 of our football-playing member institutions.”
Look, I think Notre Dame should have been in the playoff. I said so before the selections were made.
Miami is in. The real debate is between Notre Dame and Alabama, and for my money, I’d take Notre Dame by 10 points over this version of the Tide.
Notre Dame has a right to be upset, but the blame is misplaced. Either take ownership for the two games you did lose, blame a process that had Notre Dame incorrectly behind Miami for weeks, or go after the SEC, who advocated for 7 teams. The ACC only did what they’ve struggled to do for years, and that’s support its full football-playing members in the football playoff.
