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In a strong rebuke, Big 12 chief asserted that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for recent remarks targeting the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The Source of the Controversy

Notre Dame maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full 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 pushing for the selection of the University of Miami.

“They does wonderful things for Notre Dame, but we offer tremendous football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would make an effort to try to damage us in this procedure,” the athletic director stated.

Miami eventually received the CFP spot over Notre Dame, primarily due to winning the head-to-head matchup between the two teams. Notre Dame's AD also claimed that the ACC ran a coordinated social media effort over several weeks demonstrating its support for Miami.

A Strong Rebuke

Later on Tuesday, Yormark responded to the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.

“I think his conduct has been egregious,” Yormark said. “He is totally out of bounds in his tactics and if he was in the room, I’d say to him the same thing.”

This public pushback is particularly striking given Bevacqua’s special role. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the interests of football independent Notre Dame.

Historical Context and Future Moves

The commissioner also pointed out the assistance the ACC offered Notre Dame in the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a full ACC schedule and a berth in its title game.

“His behavior has been unacceptable,” he reiterated. “It’s been egregious going after Jim Phillips, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...”

Rumors had circulated about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, Yormark's public reprimand on Tuesday seem to make such a move less likely in the immediate future.

Notre Dame, who made the CFP championship game last season, have indicated they plan to decline a postseason invitation after failing to qualify this season.