🔗 Share this article Big 12 Conference Chief Calls Notre Dame Remarks After CFP Snub as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’ At a strong rebuke, Brett Yormark stated that Notre Dame's athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for his remarks about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Source of the Controversy The Fighting Irish has a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. The AD has contended that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s opportunities to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to campaigning for the selection of the University of Miami. “They do wonderful 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 procedure,” Bevacqua stated. Miami eventually earned the CFP spot over Notre Dame, largely due to winning the direct meeting between the two teams. Bevacqua further alleged that the ACC conducted a coordinated social media push over multiple weeks indicating its support for Miami. A Strong Reaction Later on Tuesday, Yormark responded to the allegations at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum. “In my view his conduct has been egregious,” the commissioner said. “He is completely out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the same room, I’d tell him the same thing.” This public pushback is particularly striking given Bevacqua’s special standing. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the interests of football independent Notre Dame. Past Support and Future Moves Yormark also pointed out the lifeline the ACC offered Notre Dame during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, giving the Irish a full conference schedule and a berth in its title game. “It has been egregious,” he said again. “It’s been unacceptable going after the ACC commissioner, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...” Speculation had circulated about Notre Dame potentially leaving the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. However, Yormark's public reprimand on Tuesday appear to make such a scenario unlikely in the immediate future. The Irish, who made the CFP championship game last season, have stated they plan to decline a bowl game after failing to qualify this year.