Big 12 Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Comments Following CFP Omission as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’
In a public statement, Brett Yormark declared that Notre Dame's AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “entirely out of bounds” for recent remarks about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Dispute
Notre Dame has a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. Bevacqua has contended that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s opportunities to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead pushing for the spot of the University of Miami.
“They do great things for Notre Dame, but we bring tremendous 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,” Bevacqua remarked.
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 ran a coordinated social media push over multiple weeks indicating its preference for Miami.
An Egregious Reaction
Subsequently on Tuesday, Yormark responded to the allegations at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“I think his behavior has been egregious,” Yormark commented. “He is totally out of bounds in his method and if he was in the room, I’d tell him the same thing.”
This public response is particularly significant given Bevacqua’s prominent role. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the interests of football independent Notre Dame.
Past Context and Speculative Moves
The commissioner further remarked the lifeline the ACC offered Notre Dame in the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a complete ACC schedule and a berth in its championship game.
“It has been unacceptable,” Yormark reiterated. “It’s been unacceptable criticizing Jim Phillips, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”
Speculation had circulated about Notre Dame possibly leaving the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. Yet, the commissioner's pointed reprimand on Tuesday seem to make such a move less likely in the immediate future.
Notre Dame, who made the CFP championship game last season, have indicated they plan to decline a postseason invitation after failing to qualify this year.
