Big 12 commissioner says Notre Dame comments after CFP snub totally out of bounds'

"Bevacqua has claimed the ACC damaged Notre Dames chances at making the College Football Playoff, instead campaigning for Miami's inclusion. Miami made the CFP over the Fighting Irish, mostly because the Hurricanes won the teams' head-to-head meeting. Bevacqua claimed that the ACC engaged in a targeted social media campaign over multiple weeks showing it favored Miami's inclusion in the field over Notre Dame."

"Later Tuesday, Yormark appeared at the Sports Business Journal's Intercollegiate Athletics Forum and addressed Bevacqua's criticism. I think his behavior has been egregious, Yormark said. He is totally out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I'd tell him the same thing."

"The public pushback is notable given Bevacqua's unique standing as Notre Dames AD. For example, Bevacqua sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee with the 10 FBS conference commissioners, representing the interests of football independent Notre Dame. Rumors have also spread about Notre Dame's next moves if they want to split with the ACC, which included partnering up with the Big 12. That looks less likely after Yormark took Bevacqua to task on Tuesday."

Brett Yormark publicly criticized Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua for accusing the Atlantic Coast Conference of damaging Notre Dame's College Football Playoff chances while campaigning for Miami's inclusion. Bevacqua alleged a targeted ACC social media campaign favoring Miami; Miami reached the CFP after winning the head-to-head game versus Notre Dame. Yormark said Bevacqua's conduct was egregious and out of bounds and defended the ACC, noting the conference provided Notre Dame a 10-game conference schedule and a championship berth during the COVID-affected 2020 season. Yormark suggested Bevacqua's comments complicate Notre Dame's perceived options for conference alignment.

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