Big 12 Conference Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Remarks Following CFP Snub as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
At a public statement, Brett Yormark declared that Notre Dame AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for public comments about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Root of the Controversy
Notre Dame maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. Bevacqua has claimed that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s bid to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to campaigning for the inclusion of the University of Miami.
“The ACC does wonderful things for Notre Dame, but we provide 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 selection,” the athletic director said.
Miami ultimately secured the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the head-to-head contest between the two schools. Bevacqua additionally stated that the ACC engaged in a coordinated social media effort over several weeks indicating its support for Miami.
An Egregious Rebuke
Later on Tuesday, Yormark responded to the allegations at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“I think his conduct has been out of line,” the commissioner stated. “He is completely 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 striking given Bevacqua’s unique position. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the concerns of football independent Notre Dame.
Historical Support and Future Moves
Yormark also pointed out the lifeline the ACC gave Notre Dame during the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a full ACC schedule and a place in its title game.
“It has been egregious,” Yormark reiterated. “It’s been egregious criticizing the ACC commissioner, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”
Rumors had spread about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. Yet, Yormark's strong comments on Tuesday seem to make such a partnership highly improbable in the near term.
Notre Dame, who made the CFP championship game last season, have stated they will decline a postseason invitation after missing out this season.
