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During a public rebuke, Big 12 Conference commissioner asserted that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for recent comments about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Root of the Dispute

Notre Dame maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a participating member in all other sports. Bevacqua has contended that the ACC harmed Notre Dame’s bid to enter the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to advocating for the selection of the University of Miami.

“The ACC does wonderful things for Notre Dame, but we offer significant football value to the ACC, and we couldn't comprehend why you would go out of your way to try to undermine us in this selection,” Bevacqua stated.

Miami eventually received the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, largely due to winning the direct matchup between the two teams. Notre Dame's AD further alleged that the ACC engaged in a targeted social media effort over several weeks demonstrating its preference for Miami.

An Egregious Rebuke

Subsequently on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner addressed the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.

“My opinion is that his conduct has been egregious,” the commissioner commented. “He is completely out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I’d say to him the same thing.”

The response is especially striking given Bevacqua’s special position. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee with the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the interests of football independent Notre Dame.

Past Context and Speculative Moves

The commissioner also highlighted the support the ACC gave Notre Dame during the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a full ACC schedule and a place in its championship game.

“It has been egregious,” Yormark reiterated. “It’s been egregious attacking the ACC commissioner, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...”

Talk had circulated about Notre Dame potentially leaving the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. However, the commissioner's strong reprimand on Tuesday appear to make such a partnership 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.