Big 12 Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Comments Following CFP Snub as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
During a strong rebuke, Big 12 chief declared that Notre Dame's athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for recent criticisms concerning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Controversy
The Fighting Irish maintains a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a full member in other sports. The AD has claimed that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s chances to enter the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to campaigning for the selection of the University of Miami.
“The ACC do great things for Notre Dame, but we offer tremendous football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would make an effort to try to hurt us in this selection,” the athletic director said.
Miami eventually secured the CFP spot over Notre Dame, mostly due to securing the head-to-head matchup between the two teams. Notre Dame's AD also claimed that the ACC ran a coordinated social media push over several weeks indicating its preference for Miami.
A Strong Rebuke
Subsequently on Tuesday, Yormark responded to the criticism at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“In my view his conduct has been unacceptable,” the commissioner 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 especially striking given Bevacqua’s special standing. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee with the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the concerns of independent Notre Dame.
Past Support and Speculative Rumors
The commissioner also pointed out the lifeline the ACC offered Notre Dame during the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a complete ACC schedule and a place in its championship game.
“It has been unacceptable,” Yormark said again. “It’s been egregious attacking the ACC commissioner, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...”
Rumors had spread about Notre Dame possibly leaving the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. However, the commissioner's strong comments on Tuesday appear to make such a partnership unlikely in the immediate future.
The Irish, who made the CFP championship game last season, have stated they are declining a bowl game after missing out this season.
