Big 12 Conference Chief Calls Notre Dame Remarks After CFP Snub as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’
In a public rebuke, Brett Yormark stated that Notre Dame AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “entirely out of bounds” for recent comments targeting the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Root of the Tension
Notre Dame maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a participating member in other sports. Bevacqua has argued that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s bid to make the College Football Playoff, instead campaigning for the selection of the University of Miami.
“The ACC do great things for Notre Dame, but we offer substantial football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would make an effort to try to hurt us in this process,” the athletic director said.
The Hurricanes ultimately secured the CFP berth over Notre Dame, primarily due to winning the direct contest between the two programs. Bevacqua additionally stated that the ACC conducted a coordinated social media campaign over multiple weeks demonstrating its preference for Miami.
A Strong Rebuke
Later on Tuesday, Yormark spoke about the criticism at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“I think his actions has been out of line,” the commissioner said. “He is completely out of bounds in his tactics and if he was in the same room, I’d say to him the same thing.”
This public response is particularly striking given Bevacqua’s prominent 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 Future Moves
Yormark further remarked the lifeline the ACC offered Notre Dame in the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a complete ACC schedule and a place in its championship game.
“It has been egregious,” Yormark reiterated. “It’s been egregious going after Jim Phillips, when they helped Notre Dame during Covid...”
Rumors had spread about Notre Dame possibly leaving the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, Yormark's pointed reprimand on Tuesday seem to make such a move less likely in the near term.
Notre Dame, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have indicated they will decline a bowl game after missing out this season.
