Fighting Irish Today

As Notre Dame heads into the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, athletic director Pete Bevacqua remains steadfast in the belief that the Fighting Irish’s independent status is the right path for the program. Speaking with ESPN on Friday, Bevacqua expressed confidence in the program’s position, calling it “in a very good spot now.”

Although Bevacqua declined to comment specifically on the playoff revenue distribution, the Irish stand to gain significantly from their independent status. According to the CFP website, Notre Dame will earn $20 million in total playoff revenue—profits they do not need to share with other conference teams. This includes $4 million for making the playoff, another $4 million for reaching the quarterfinals, $6 million for advancing to the semifinals, and an additional $6 million for reaching the national title game.

With their 27-24 win over Penn State in the Capital One Orange Bowl, the Irish now face the winner of Friday’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between Texas and Ohio State. Despite not earning a first-round bye due to the four spots reserved for conference champions, Notre Dame has surged into the title game with three consecutive playoff victories. They’ll square off for their first national championship since 1988 on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

“The expansion of the CFP from four to 12 teams has been huge for us as an independent,” Bevacqua said. “It gives us better opportunities and better odds of making the playoffs. And the more you knock on the door of a national championship, the better it gets. We like the freedom it gives us—being able to play Navy at MetLife or have our Shamrock Series against Army at Yankee Stadium. We can keep the USC rivalry alive, and we really get to move around the country and maintain that national presence. It’s been fantastic for our football program and the university.”

With the current CFP structure, individual conferences receive equal payouts for each team that advances through the bracket. Every conference represented in the CFP also gets an additional $3 million for each round their teams participate in.

Aside from the playoff earnings, Notre Dame has a strong financial foundation, bolstered by its lucrative television deal with NBC and its partnership with the ACC for all sports except hockey. For Bevacqua, a 1993 Notre Dame graduate who returned to the school in 2023 after a successful career at NBC Sports, the program’s history plays a crucial role in its ongoing success.

“Being independent is part of Notre Dame’s heritage,” Bevacqua said. “It’s been a huge part of how the university became national in the early 20th century. Think about Knute Rockne getting on a train to start the USC rivalry—that history is still alive today, and we’re well-positioned to keep that independence going.”

Industry sources indicate that starting in 2026, Notre Dame is set to receive more than $12 million in CFP revenue distribution, putting the Irish in a similar range as ACC and Big 12 schools, who are expected to receive $13 million and $12 million annually, respectively.

Additionally, any independent team that qualifies for the CFP will receive a $6 million incentive, which will add to Notre Dame’s earnings. The Irish’s CFP contract also includes access protections, ensuring they will retain their place in the playoff regardless of the final format, whether it remains at 12 teams or expands to 14.

“The best part is that we can remain independent in football while being part of a fantastic conference for all our other major sports with the ACC,” Bevacqua said. “We’re in a great spot now. The key to being independent—while it’s not always easy—is that you have to win.”

Thankfully for Notre Dame, Bevacqua believes they have the best man for the job in head coach Marcus Freeman, who has helped the Irish achieve success both on and off the field. “We have the resources, the relationships with NBC, the expanded CFP—everything’s in place for us to be successful, but it all comes down to executing. Thanks to Coach Freeman and the team, this year, we’re doing just that.”