Big 12 Conference Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Remarks After CFP Omission as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’
At a notable rebuke, Brett Yormark stated that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “entirely out of bounds” for his 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 participating member in other sports. Bevacqua has argued that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s chances to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead advocating for the selection of the University of Miami.
“They does great things for Notre Dame, but we provide substantial football value to the ACC, and we couldn't comprehend why you would make an effort to try to undermine us in this selection,” Bevacqua said.
Miami eventually secured the CFP berth over Notre Dame, mostly due to securing the head-to-head contest between the two schools. Bevacqua additionally stated that the ACC ran a coordinated social media campaign over multiple weeks indicating its preference for Miami.
A Strong Reaction
Later on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner addressed the allegations at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“I think his behavior has been unacceptable,” the commissioner said. “He is totally out of bounds in his tactics and if he was in the same room, I’d tell him the same thing.”
This public criticism is especially notable given Bevacqua’s special 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.
Historical Context and Speculative Rumors
The commissioner further highlighted the support the ACC provided Notre Dame during the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a full conference schedule and a berth in its championship game.
“It has been unacceptable,” he said again. “It’s been egregious attacking Jim Phillips, when they helped Notre Dame during Covid...”
Speculation had spread about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. However, the commissioner's strong reprimand on Tuesday appear to make such a move highly improbable in the immediate future.
The Irish, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have stated they plan to decline a postseason invitation after failing to qualify this season.
