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

In a notable rebuke, Brett Yormark stated that Notre Dame AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “entirely out of bounds” for public comments targeting the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Root of the Controversy

Notre Dame maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. Bevacqua has contended that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s chances to make the College Football Playoff, instead campaigning for the selection of the University of Miami.

“The ACC do great things for Notre Dame, but we bring tremendous 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,” the athletic director remarked.

Miami eventually secured the CFP berth over Notre Dame, mostly due to securing the head-to-head contest between the two programs. Bevacqua further alleged that the ACC conducted a coordinated social media push over multiple weeks showing its preference for Miami.

An Egregious Rebuke

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

“In my view his behavior has been out of line,” the commissioner stated. “He is completely out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I’d say to him the same thing.”

This public pushback is particularly notable given Bevacqua’s unique position. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee with the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the concerns of independent Notre Dame.

Historical Support and Speculative Rumors

The commissioner also highlighted the assistance the ACC offered Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, providing the Irish a complete ACC schedule and a berth in its championship game.

“His behavior has been egregious,” Yormark said again. “It’s been unacceptable attacking the ACC commissioner, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...”

Talk had spread about Notre Dame potentially splitting with the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. However, Yormark's public reprimand on Tuesday appear to make such a scenario less likely in the near term.

The Irish, who reached the CFP final last season, have indicated they will decline a bowl game after missing out this year.