At a notable rebuke, Big 12 chief asserted that Notre Dame's AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “entirely out of bounds” for recent comments concerning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Source of the Controversy
Notre Dame has a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a participating member in all other sports. The AD has claimed that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s bid to enter the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to campaigning for the inclusion of the University of Miami.
“The ACC do great things for Notre Dame, but we provide tremendous football value to the ACC, and we couldn't comprehend why you would make an effort to try to damage us in this process,” the athletic director stated.
The Hurricanes ultimately earned the CFP berth over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the direct contest between the two teams. Bevacqua also claimed that the ACC engaged in a targeted social media push over several weeks demonstrating its support for Miami.
An Egregious Rebuke
Subsequently on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner addressed the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“In my view his actions has been out of line,” the commissioner stated. “He is totally out of bounds in his method and if he was in the same room, I’d say to him the same thing.”
This public criticism is particularly notable given Bevacqua’s unique role. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the concerns of football independent Notre Dame.
Past Context and Future Rumors
Yormark also highlighted the support the ACC offered Notre Dame during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, providing the Irish a complete conference schedule and a berth in its championship game.
“It has been unacceptable,” Yormark said again. “It’s been unacceptable attacking Jim Phillips, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...”
Speculation had spread about Notre Dame potentially splitting with the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. Yet, the commissioner's pointed reprimand on Tuesday seem to make such a scenario unlikely in the near term.
The Irish, who made the CFP championship game last season, have announced they plan to decline a bowl game after missing out this season.
