Big 12 Chief Calls Notre Dame Remarks After CFP Snub as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
At a public rebuke, Brett Yormark stated that Notre Dame AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for recent comments targeting the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Tension
The Fighting Irish maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. The AD has claimed that the ACC harmed Notre Dame’s chances to enter the College Football Playoff, instead pushing for the inclusion of the University of Miami.
“They do great things for Notre Dame, but we provide substantial football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would make an effort to try to undermine us in this process,” the athletic director stated.
The Hurricanes ultimately received the CFP berth over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the head-to-head contest between the two schools. Bevacqua also claimed that the ACC conducted a targeted social media effort over several weeks indicating its support for Miami.
A Strong Response
Subsequently on Tuesday, Yormark spoke about the allegations at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“In my view his behavior has been egregious,” the commissioner stated. “He is totally out of bounds in his tactics and if he was in the same room, I’d tell him the same thing.”
The response is especially striking given Bevacqua’s prominent role. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the concerns of football independent Notre Dame.
Past Support and Speculative Rumors
Yormark also remarked the support the ACC provided Notre Dame during the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a full conference schedule and a berth in its championship game.
“His behavior has been egregious,” Yormark said again. “It’s been unacceptable going after the ACC commissioner, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”
Rumors had circulated about Notre Dame potentially leaving the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. However, the commissioner's public comments on Tuesday seem to make such a partnership unlikely in the immediate future.
The Irish, who made the CFP final last season, have stated they plan to decline a postseason invitation after failing to qualify this season.
