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The ground is shifting beneath the feet of college athletics, and at the University of Notre Dame, all eyes are on Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua. Hired in 2024, Bevacqua stepped in not just to fill a role, but to answer a call. At a time when name, image and likeness (NIL), the transfer portal and sweeping realignments threaten to redefine the future of college sports, Bevacqua is doing something rare. He is meeting upheaval with vision, turning volatility into opportunity and bringing a steady, strategic compass to one of the most high-stakes moments in Notre Dame’s athletic history.

He’s not here to cling to tradition for tradition’s sake, nor to chase trends. Instead, he’s anchoring Notre Dame Athletics in something
deeper, a commitment to preserving the student-athlete experience that has long set the University apart, while boldly guiding it into a new era that demands adaptability, courage and clarity of purpose.

The June 2025 House v. NCAA settlement will usher in a new model where schools can directly share revenue with student-athletes. It is the formal end of the NCAA’s amateurism and the beginning of a landscape defined by new expectations, financial realities and institutional responsibilities. While much of the revenue will naturally support football and basketball, Bevacqua views this transition as a broader opportunity, one that calls for accountability, strategic vision, and a renewed focus on differentiating Notre Dame in a rapidly evolving landscape.

“That imbalance reflects broader realities in the sports economy,” Bevacqua explains. “But we have to ensure that we don’t lose what makes college athletics, and Notre Dame in particular, so special. Our identity has always been about more than just competition. It’s about integrity, education and excellence.”

Notre Dame has been unafraid to challenge aspects of the settlement. One point of contention has been roster limitations, which may negatively impact Olympic and non-revenue sports.

“That’s not something we’re comfortable with,” Bevacqua says. “We’re advocating for grace periods, transitional support and thoughtful implementation. We owe it to our student-athletes to get this right.”

Bevacqua emphasizes a growth mindset: embracing innovation while staying grounded in Notre Dame’s core values.

“We take what we do seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We’re not afraid to make mistakes. We’re always looking to improve.”

This authentic message has resonated with recruits and fans alike. Bevacqua confidently states, “I believe we are the hottest football program in the country right now.” Notre Dame is investing in that momentum.

Shield Family Hall, a best-in-class football operations facility currently under construction, represents the future of the program.

“It’s going to be the best football facility in the country,” Bevacqua says.

Meanwhile, the expansion of the College Football Playoff from four to 12 teams has major implications for the Fighting Irish.

“As an independent, the old four-team model required near-perfection. Now, a single loss doesn’t eliminate us. We can play a tough schedule and still have a legitimate path to a national title.”

And that title, Bevacqua believes, is within reach.

“This past year wasn’t a one-and-done. We’re not just knocking on the door. We’re preparing to walk through it. It’s been too long since we won a national championship, and we are hungry.”

Though football garners the spotlight, Bevacqua’s vision spans all 26 varsity sports at Notre Dame. The University fields 739 student-athletes, the vast majority of whom will not pursue professional careers. For Bevacqua, that underscores, not diminishes, the value of the collegiate model.

“College athletics is not professional sports. Nor should it be,” he says. “Our job is to ensure these young men and women compete at the highest level while earning a top-tier education. That balance is harder to maintain in this new era, but it’s also what makes us different.”

Bevacqua sees an opportunity where others might see a challenge.

“It’s easy to excel at athletics or academics. The real magic of Notre Dame is doing both at the highest level. That’s the bar.”

To reach that bar, Bevacqua is focused on modernizing facilities, expanding alumni networks and increasing leadership programming for student-athletes.

This investment includes a sharper focus on leadership development and mental health resources, as well as sustained support for Olympic sports.

“Our student-athletes represent Notre Dame with distinction around the world, from swim lanes to soccer fields to fencing strips. We have a duty to support them fully.”

Navigating the storm of college sports requires more than policies — it requires people. Bevacqua insists that the team he’s building in the athletic department will be defined by humility, collaboration and the constant pursuit of excellence.

For Bevacqua, that commitment isn’t just philosophical, it’s deeply personal. As Notre Dame moves to operationalize the sweeping changes from the House settlement and broader shifts across college athletics, Bevacqua remains steadfast in his vision and conviction.

“We’re on the cusp of something great,” he says. “And the way we respond to this moment will define the next decade of Notre Dame Athletics.”