Big 12 Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Comments Following CFP Snub as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’

In a notable criticism, Big 12 Conference commissioner declared that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “entirely out of bounds” for public remarks concerning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The Source of the Controversy

The Fighting Irish has a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a participating member in other sports. Bevacqua has contended that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s chances to enter the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to campaigning for the spot of the University of Miami.

“The ACC does wonderful things for Notre Dame, but we offer tremendous football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would go out of your way to try to damage us in this selection,” Bevacqua remarked.

Miami eventually secured the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, primarily due to securing the head-to-head meeting between the two schools. Notre Dame's AD further alleged that the ACC engaged in a coordinated social media effort over several weeks indicating its preference for Miami.

An Egregious Rebuke

Later on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner 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 method and if he was in the same room, I’d tell him the same thing.”

The criticism is especially significant given Bevacqua’s special standing. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the concerns of football independent Notre Dame.

Past Support and Future Rumors

Yormark also highlighted the support the ACC provided 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,” he said again. “It’s been unacceptable criticizing the ACC commissioner, when they helped Notre Dame during Covid...”

Rumors had spread about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. Yet, Yormark's public comments on Tuesday seem to make such a scenario less likely in the near term.

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