Big 12 Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Comments After CFP Snub as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
In a public criticism, Big 12 Conference commissioner stated that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for recent criticisms targeting the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Root of the Tension
The Fighting Irish maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in other sports. The AD has contended that the ACC harmed Notre Dame’s opportunities to enter the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to pushing for the inclusion of the University of Miami.
“They does great things for Notre Dame, but we bring substantial football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would go out of your way to try to undermine us in this selection,” the athletic director stated.
The Hurricanes ultimately earned the CFP berth over Notre Dame, primarily due to securing 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 several weeks demonstrating its support for Miami.
A Strong Rebuke
Subsequently on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner spoke about the criticism at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“My opinion is that his behavior has been unacceptable,” the commissioner commented. “He is completely out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the same 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 independent Notre Dame.
Historical Context and Future Rumors
The commissioner further highlighted the assistance the ACC gave Notre Dame during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, providing the Irish a full conference schedule and a place in its title game.
“It has been egregious,” Yormark reiterated. “It’s been unacceptable criticizing Jim Phillips, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...”
Talk had spread about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. However, Yormark's strong comments on Tuesday appear to make such a partnership unlikely in the near term.
Notre Dame, who reached the CFP final last season, have announced they plan to decline a bowl game after failing to qualify this season.
