Big 12 Conference Chief Calls Notre Dame Remarks Following CFP Omission as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
In a public rebuke, Brett Yormark asserted that Notre Dame's AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “entirely out of bounds” for public comments concerning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Root of the Tension
The Fighting Irish has a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a participating member in other sports. Bevacqua has claimed that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s bid to make the College Football Playoff, instead pushing for the spot of the University of Miami.
“They do great things for Notre Dame, but we bring tremendous football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would go out of your way to try to undermine us in this procedure,” Bevacqua said.
The Hurricanes eventually secured the CFP spot over Notre Dame, largely due to winning the head-to-head contest between the two schools. Bevacqua additionally stated that the ACC conducted a targeted social media effort over several weeks indicating its preference for Miami.
An Egregious Rebuke
Later on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner responded to the criticism at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“I think his conduct has been out of line,” the commissioner stated. “He is totally out of bounds in his method and if he was in the same room, I’d tell him the same thing.”
This public response is particularly striking given Bevacqua’s prominent standing. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the interests of football independent Notre Dame.
Past Support and Future Rumors
Yormark also remarked the lifeline the ACC gave Notre Dame during the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a full conference schedule and a place in its title game.
“His behavior has been unacceptable,” he reiterated. “It’s been unacceptable going after the ACC commissioner, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...”
Speculation had spread about Notre Dame possibly leaving the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. However, the commissioner's strong comments on Tuesday seem to make such a scenario unlikely in the immediate future.
Notre Dame, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have indicated they are declining a bowl game after failing to qualify this year.
