Big 12 Conference Commissioner Labels Notre Dame Remarks After CFP Omission as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’
At a strong statement, Brett Yormark stated that Notre Dame's athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for recent remarks about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Root of the Controversy
The Fighting Irish has a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a participating member in all other sports. The AD has contended that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s chances to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to advocating for the spot of the University of Miami.
“The ACC does wonderful things for Notre Dame, but we offer significant 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 procedure,” Bevacqua stated.
The Hurricanes eventually received the CFP spot over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the direct meeting between the two programs. Notre Dame's AD also claimed that the ACC conducted a targeted social media push over several weeks indicating its support for Miami.
An Egregious Response
Later on Tuesday, Yormark spoke about the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“In my view his conduct has been unacceptable,” the commissioner said. “He is completely out of bounds in his tactics and if he was in the same room, I’d say to him the same thing.”
The pushback is particularly significant given Bevacqua’s prominent role. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the concerns of independent Notre Dame.
Historical Support and Speculative Moves
The commissioner also pointed out the support the ACC gave Notre Dame during the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a complete ACC schedule and a berth in its championship game.
“It has been egregious,” Yormark said again. “It’s been egregious going after Jim Phillips, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...”
Speculation had spread about Notre Dame potentially splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. However, Yormark's pointed reprimand on Tuesday seem to make such a partnership unlikely in the near term.
Notre Dame, who made the CFP championship game last season, have announced they will decline a postseason invitation after failing to qualify this season.
