Big 12 Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Remarks Following CFP Omission as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’
In a public statement, Brett Yormark declared that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for public criticisms about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Dispute
The Fighting Irish maintains a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a participating member in all other sports. Bevacqua has claimed that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s chances to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead advocating for the spot of the University of Miami.
“They do great things for Notre Dame, but we provide substantial football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would go out of your way to try to hurt us in this selection,” the athletic director remarked.
Miami eventually secured the CFP spot over Notre Dame, largely due to winning the head-to-head contest between the two programs. Notre Dame's AD further alleged that the ACC conducted a targeted social media push over multiple weeks demonstrating its support for Miami.
An Egregious Reaction
Later on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner responded to the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“In my view his actions has been egregious,” Yormark said. “He is completely out of bounds in his tactics and if he was in the room, I’d tell him the same thing.”
This public pushback is particularly striking given Bevacqua’s unique role. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee with the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the concerns of football independent Notre Dame.
Past Context and Future Rumors
The commissioner also remarked the lifeline the ACC provided Notre Dame in the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a full ACC schedule and a place in its title game.
“It has been egregious,” he reiterated. “It’s been egregious criticizing the ACC commissioner, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”
Speculation had spread about Notre Dame potentially splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, Yormark's pointed comments on Tuesday appear to make such a scenario less likely in the near term.
Notre Dame, who made the CFP championship game last season, have announced they plan to decline a bowl game after missing out this season.
