🔗 Share this article Big 12 Conference Chief Calls Notre Dame Comments After CFP Snub as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’ At a strong rebuke, Brett Yormark asserted that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “entirely out of bounds” for recent criticisms concerning 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 other sports. The AD has contended that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s bid to enter the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to pushing for the spot of the University of Miami. “The ACC 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 damage us in this procedure,” the athletic director said. The Hurricanes ultimately received the CFP spot over Notre Dame, primarily due to winning the head-to-head meeting between the two teams. Bevacqua additionally stated that the ACC ran a targeted social media campaign over several weeks demonstrating its support for Miami. An Egregious Rebuke Subsequently on Tuesday, Yormark spoke about the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum. “I think his actions has been out of line,” the commissioner stated. “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 pushback is especially notable given Bevacqua’s prominent position. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the interests of football independent Notre Dame. Historical Support and Speculative Moves Yormark also highlighted the support the ACC offered Notre Dame in the Covid-affected 2020 season, giving the Irish a complete ACC schedule and a place in its title game. “His behavior has been egregious,” he reiterated. “It’s been unacceptable going after the ACC commissioner, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...” Speculation had circulated about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, the commissioner's pointed comments on Tuesday seem to make such a scenario highly improbable in the near term. The Irish, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have announced they are declining a bowl game after failing to qualify this season.