Big 12 Conference Chief Calls Notre Dame Remarks Following CFP Snub as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
At a public statement, Brett Yormark declared that Notre Dame's AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for recent remarks targeting the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Tension
Notre Dame has a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a participating member in other sports. Bevacqua has claimed that the ACC harmed Notre Dame’s opportunities to make the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to pushing for the inclusion of the University of Miami.
“The ACC does great things for Notre Dame, but we provide substantial football value to the ACC, and we couldn't comprehend why you would go out of your way to try to damage us in this process,” the athletic director remarked.
The Hurricanes eventually received the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the direct matchup between the two schools. Notre Dame's AD additionally stated that the ACC ran a targeted social media campaign over multiple weeks showing its preference for Miami.
A Strong Reaction
Later on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner spoke about the criticism at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“I think his conduct has been out of line,” Yormark said. “He is completely out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I’d say to him the same thing.”
The response is particularly striking given Bevacqua’s unique role. 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 Context and Speculative Rumors
Yormark further highlighted the assistance the ACC provided Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, giving the Irish a full ACC schedule and a berth in its championship game.
“It has been unacceptable,” he reiterated. “It’s been egregious going after Jim Phillips, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”
Speculation had spread about Notre Dame possibly leaving the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, the commissioner's strong comments on Tuesday seem to make such a partnership unlikely in the immediate future.
The Irish, who reached the CFP final last season, have stated they plan to decline a bowl game after missing out this year.
