🔗 Share this article Big 12 Chief Labels Notre Dame Remarks Following CFP Omission as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’ At a notable rebuke, Brett Yormark stated that Notre Dame's AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for his remarks targeting the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Root of the Controversy The Fighting Irish has a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. Bevacqua has claimed that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s opportunities to make the College Football Playoff, instead advocating for the inclusion of the University of Miami. “They does wonderful things for Notre Dame, but we offer significant football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would make an effort to try to undermine us in this procedure,” Bevacqua said. The Hurricanes eventually earned the CFP berth over Notre Dame, primarily due to winning the direct contest between the two programs. Notre Dame's AD also claimed that the ACC conducted a coordinated social media push over multiple weeks indicating its preference for Miami. A Strong Response Later on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner addressed the criticism at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum. “In my view his conduct has been out of line,” the commissioner said. “He is completely out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I’d tell him the same thing.” The criticism is particularly significant given Bevacqua’s special position. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee with the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the interests of independent Notre Dame. Historical Context and Speculative Rumors The commissioner also remarked the lifeline the ACC gave Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, providing the Irish a full conference schedule and a place in its championship game. “His behavior has been unacceptable,” he reiterated. “It’s been unacceptable going after Jim Phillips, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...” Rumors had spread about Notre Dame possibly leaving the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. However, the commissioner's strong reprimand on Tuesday seem to make such a scenario unlikely in the near term. Notre Dame, who reached the CFP final last season, have indicated they are declining a postseason invitation after missing out this season.