Big 12 Conference Chief Labels Notre Dame Remarks Following CFP Snub as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’
In a strong statement, Brett Yormark stated that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for his comments about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Tension
The Fighting Irish has a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. The AD has argued that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s chances to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead pushing for the spot of the University of Miami.
“The ACC does great things for Notre Dame, but we provide significant 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 remarked.
The Hurricanes eventually earned the CFP spot over Notre Dame, largely due to winning the head-to-head meeting between the two teams. Bevacqua also claimed that the ACC engaged in a coordinated social media effort over several weeks indicating its preference for Miami.
A Strong Response
Subsequently on Tuesday, Yormark responded to the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“In my view his conduct has been unacceptable,” the commissioner said. “He is totally out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I’d tell him the same thing.”
The pushback is especially notable given Bevacqua’s special standing. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the concerns of football independent Notre Dame.
Historical Context and Future Rumors
Yormark further remarked the assistance the ACC offered Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, providing the Irish a full conference schedule and a berth in its championship game.
“His behavior has been unacceptable,” he said again. “It’s been unacceptable going after Jim Phillips, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”
Talk had spread about Notre Dame potentially splitting with the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. However, Yormark's strong reprimand on Tuesday seem to make such a scenario unlikely in the immediate future.
Notre Dame, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have stated they plan to decline a postseason invitation after failing to qualify this season.
