Big 12 Conference Commissioner Labels Notre Dame Remarks Following CFP Omission as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
In a public statement, Brett Yormark asserted that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for recent criticisms concerning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Dispute
Notre Dame has a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. Bevacqua has claimed that the ACC harmed Notre Dame’s bid to make the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to pushing for the inclusion of the University of Miami.
“They does great things for Notre Dame, but we offer significant 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 ultimately received the CFP spot over Notre Dame, mostly due to securing the direct contest between the two teams. Bevacqua further alleged that the ACC ran a targeted social media effort over multiple weeks showing its support for Miami.
An Egregious Rebuke
Subsequently on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner responded to the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“My opinion is that his behavior has been egregious,” the commissioner said. “He is completely out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I’d tell him the same thing.”
The response is particularly significant given Bevacqua’s prominent position. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee with the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the concerns of independent Notre Dame.
Past Context and Speculative Moves
Yormark also pointed out the support the ACC provided Notre Dame during the Covid-affected 2020 season, giving the Irish a complete ACC schedule and a berth in its title game.
“His behavior has been egregious,” Yormark said again. “It’s been egregious criticizing Jim Phillips, when they helped Notre Dame during Covid...”
Talk had circulated about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, Yormark's public comments on Tuesday seem to make such a partnership highly improbable in the near term.
The Irish, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have stated they are declining a postseason invitation after missing out this season.