Big 12 Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Comments Following CFP Snub as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’
In a notable rebuke, Big 12 Conference commissioner asserted that Notre Dame AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for his comments about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Dispute
The Fighting Irish maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in other sports. The AD has argued that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s bid to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead pushing for the spot of the University of Miami.
“They do wonderful 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 damage us in this selection,” Bevacqua remarked.
The Hurricanes ultimately received the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, primarily due to winning the direct meeting between the two programs. Notre Dame's AD also claimed that the ACC ran a coordinated social media effort over several weeks showing its support for Miami.
A Strong Reaction
Subsequently on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner responded to the allegations at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“In my view his behavior has been unacceptable,” the commissioner commented. “He is totally out of bounds in his method and if he was in the same room, I’d tell him the same thing.”
This public response is especially significant given Bevacqua’s prominent role. He serves 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 Speculative Moves
The commissioner further remarked the assistance the ACC gave Notre Dame during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, providing the Irish a full ACC schedule and a place in its title game.
“His behavior has been egregious,” Yormark said again. “It’s been unacceptable attacking Jim Phillips, when they helped Notre Dame during Covid...”
Speculation had spread about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. However, Yormark's strong reprimand on Tuesday seem to make such a partnership highly improbable in the immediate future.
The Irish, who made the CFP final last season, have stated they are declining a postseason invitation after missing out this season.
