Big 12 Chief Labels Notre Dame Remarks Following CFP Snub as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’

In a notable rebuke, Big 12 chief asserted that Notre Dame's athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “entirely out of bounds” for his comments about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The Source of the Tension

Notre Dame has a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. Bevacqua has argued that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s opportunities to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to campaigning for the spot 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 go out of your way to try to hurt us in this process,” Bevacqua said.

The Hurricanes ultimately earned the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, primarily due to securing the head-to-head contest between the two schools. Bevacqua also claimed that the ACC ran a coordinated social media push over several weeks indicating its support for Miami.

An Egregious Rebuke

Subsequently on Tuesday, Yormark addressed the allegations at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.

“In my view his behavior has been unacceptable,” Yormark commented. “He is completely out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I’d tell him the same thing.”

This public pushback is particularly striking given Bevacqua’s special standing. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the interests of independent Notre Dame.

Past Context and Speculative Rumors

The commissioner also remarked the support the ACC offered Notre Dame during the Covid-affected 2020 season, giving the Irish a complete ACC schedule and a place in its title game.

“It has been egregious,” he said again. “It’s been unacceptable criticizing the ACC commissioner, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”

Talk had circulated about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, the commissioner's public comments on Tuesday seem to make such a move less likely in the near term.

The Irish, who reached the CFP final last season, have stated they are declining a bowl game after missing out this season.