Big 12 Conference Chief Calls Notre Dame Remarks After CFP Omission as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
During a public rebuke, Big 12 Conference commissioner asserted that Notre Dame AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for public remarks about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Controversy
The Fighting Irish maintains a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a full member in other sports. Bevacqua has argued that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s opportunities to make the College Football Playoff, instead campaigning for the spot of the University of Miami.
“They do wonderful things for Notre Dame, but we offer substantial football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would make an effort to try to undermine us in this process,” the athletic director said.
The Hurricanes ultimately received the CFP spot over Notre Dame, primarily due to winning the direct meeting between the two teams. Bevacqua also claimed that the ACC ran a coordinated social media campaign over several weeks showing its preference for Miami.
An Egregious Response
Subsequently on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner responded to the criticism at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“In my view his behavior has been unacceptable,” the commissioner said. “He is completely out of bounds in his method and if he was in the room, I’d say to him the same thing.”
The response 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 Support and Future Moves
The commissioner also remarked the assistance the ACC provided Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, giving the Irish a complete conference schedule and a place in its championship game.
“His behavior has been egregious,” Yormark said again. “It’s been egregious attacking the ACC commissioner, when they helped Notre Dame during Covid...”
Talk had circulated about Notre Dame potentially leaving the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. Yet, the commissioner's strong comments on Tuesday seem to make such a move highly improbable in the near term.
Notre Dame, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have announced they will decline a postseason invitation after failing to qualify this season.
