Big 12 Conference Commissioner Labels Notre Dame Comments After CFP Omission as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’
During a public statement, Big 12 chief declared that Notre Dame's AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for public comments about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Controversy
The Fighting Irish has a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a participating member in other sports. Bevacqua has claimed that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s opportunities to enter the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to advocating for the inclusion of the University of Miami.
“They do great things for Notre Dame, but we offer significant football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would make an effort to try to undermine us in this process,” Bevacqua said.
Miami eventually earned the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, largely due to securing the head-to-head matchup between the two schools. Bevacqua further alleged that the ACC conducted a targeted social media push over several weeks showing its preference for Miami.
An Egregious Reaction
Later on Tuesday, Yormark spoke about the criticism at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“I think his behavior has been unacceptable,” Yormark commented. “He is completely out of bounds in his method and if he was in the same room, I’d tell him the same thing.”
The criticism is particularly significant given Bevacqua’s unique role. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the interests of independent Notre Dame.
Past Support and Speculative Moves
Yormark also highlighted the lifeline the ACC offered Notre Dame during the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a full ACC schedule and a place in its title game.
“His behavior has been egregious,” Yormark said again. “It’s been egregious criticizing Jim Phillips, when they helped Notre Dame during Covid...”
Talk had spread about Notre Dame potentially splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, the commissioner's public comments on Tuesday seem to make such a scenario less likely in the immediate future.
The Irish, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have announced they will decline a postseason invitation after missing out this season.
