Big 12 Chief Calls Notre Dame Remarks After CFP Snub as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
In a public rebuke, Brett Yormark declared that Notre Dame AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for his comments about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Root of the Controversy
Notre Dame maintains a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a participating member in other sports. Bevacqua has contended that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s opportunities to enter the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to pushing for the selection of the University of Miami.
“They does great things for Notre Dame, but we provide significant 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,” Bevacqua said.
Miami ultimately received the CFP spot over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the direct contest between the two teams. Bevacqua further alleged that the ACC engaged in a targeted social media effort over multiple weeks demonstrating its support for Miami.
An Egregious Reaction
Subsequently on Tuesday, Yormark responded to the criticism at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“My opinion is that his conduct has been out of line,” the commissioner said. “He is completely out of bounds in his method and if he was in the same room, I’d tell him the same thing.”
This public criticism is particularly significant given Bevacqua’s special standing. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the interests of independent Notre Dame.
Past Support and Speculative Rumors
Yormark also remarked the assistance the ACC offered Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, giving the Irish a complete conference schedule and a place in its championship game.
“It has been egregious,” he reiterated. “It’s been egregious going after the ACC commissioner, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...”
Speculation had circulated about Notre Dame potentially splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, Yormark's strong comments on Tuesday seem to make such a partnership less likely in the immediate future.
Notre Dame, who made the CFP final last season, have stated they will decline a bowl game after failing to qualify this season.
