Big 12 Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Remarks Following CFP Snub as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’
During a strong statement, Big 12 Conference commissioner stated that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for recent remarks concerning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Root of the Tension
Notre Dame maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. Bevacqua has contended that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s opportunities to enter the College Football Playoff, instead pushing for the selection of the University of Miami.
“They do great things for Notre Dame, but we provide substantial football value to the ACC, and we couldn't comprehend why you would make an effort to try to damage us in this process,” the athletic director said.
The Hurricanes ultimately earned the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, largely due to securing the direct matchup between the two teams. Bevacqua also claimed that the ACC ran a coordinated social media push over several weeks indicating its support for Miami.
A Strong Response
Later on Tuesday, Yormark addressed the allegations at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“My opinion is that his actions has been egregious,” Yormark commented. “He is completely out of bounds in his method and if he was in the room, I’d say to him the same thing.”
This public pushback is particularly significant given Bevacqua’s unique standing. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the concerns of independent Notre Dame.
Historical Support and Future Rumors
The commissioner also highlighted the assistance the ACC offered Notre Dame during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, giving the Irish a full ACC schedule and a berth in its championship game.
“It has been unacceptable,” he reiterated. “It’s been egregious attacking Jim Phillips, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”
Speculation had circulated about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. However, Yormark's public comments on Tuesday appear to make such a scenario highly improbable in the immediate future.
The Irish, who made the CFP final last season, have announced they are declining a bowl game after failing to qualify this year.
