Big 12 Conference Commissioner Labels Notre Dame Remarks Following CFP Omission as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
During a public statement, Big 12 Conference commissioner declared that Notre Dame's athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for his criticisms about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Root of the Controversy
Notre Dame has a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in other sports. Bevacqua has claimed that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s chances to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead advocating for the inclusion of the University of Miami.
“The ACC does great things for Notre Dame, but we bring substantial football value to the ACC, and we couldn't comprehend why you would go out of your way to try to damage us in this selection,” the athletic director said.
The Hurricanes ultimately earned the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the head-to-head contest between the two programs. Bevacqua additionally stated that the ACC engaged in a coordinated social media effort over multiple weeks demonstrating its support for Miami.
A Strong Reaction
Later on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner responded to the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“In my view his actions has been out of line,” the commissioner commented. “He is completely out of bounds in his tactics 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, representing the concerns of football independent Notre Dame.
Historical Context and Future Rumors
The commissioner further remarked the assistance the ACC offered Notre Dame during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, providing the Irish a full ACC schedule and a berth in its championship game.
“His behavior has been unacceptable,” he said again. “It’s been egregious criticizing Jim Phillips, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”
Talk had circulated about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. However, Yormark's strong reprimand on Tuesday appear to make such a scenario highly improbable in the near term.
Notre Dame, who reached the CFP final last season, have stated they are declining a bowl game after missing out this year.
