Big 12 Conference Chief Calls Notre Dame Comments After CFP Omission as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
During a public criticism, Big 12 Conference commissioner stated that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for his remarks targeting the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Tension
Notre Dame maintains a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a participating member in other sports. The AD has contended that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s bid to make the College Football Playoff, instead campaigning for the inclusion of the University of Miami.
“The ACC do great things for Notre Dame, but we offer substantial football value to the ACC, and we couldn't comprehend why you would go out of your way to try to undermine us in this selection,” Bevacqua said.
Miami eventually secured the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, primarily due to securing the head-to-head meeting between the two teams. Bevacqua also claimed that the ACC engaged in a targeted social media effort over multiple weeks indicating its preference for Miami.
An Egregious Rebuke
Subsequently on Tuesday, Yormark spoke about the allegations at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“In my view 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.”
The pushback is especially striking given Bevacqua’s prominent position. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee with the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the concerns of football independent Notre Dame.
Historical Support and Future Rumors
The commissioner further remarked the support the ACC gave Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, giving the Irish a complete ACC schedule and a berth in its title game.
“His behavior has been unacceptable,” Yormark said again. “It’s been egregious going after the ACC commissioner, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...”
Talk had spread about Notre Dame potentially splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. However, the commissioner's public comments on Tuesday appear to make such a partnership unlikely in the immediate future.
The Irish, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have stated they will decline a bowl game after missing out this year.
