🔗 Share this article Big 12 Commissioner Labels Notre Dame Remarks After CFP Omission as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’ During a public rebuke, Big 12 chief stated that Notre Dame's athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for public remarks about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Root of the Dispute Notre Dame has a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a participating member in all other sports. The AD has claimed that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s chances to qualify for 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 provide tremendous 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 process,” Bevacqua remarked. The Hurricanes eventually received the CFP berth over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the head-to-head contest between the two schools. Notre Dame's AD additionally stated that the ACC engaged in a coordinated social media effort over several weeks showing its preference for Miami. A Strong Response Subsequently on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner addressed the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum. “I think his conduct has been unacceptable,” the commissioner commented. “He is totally out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the same room, I’d tell him the same thing.” The pushback is particularly striking given Bevacqua’s prominent standing. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the interests of independent Notre Dame. Past Context and Future Moves Yormark also highlighted the lifeline the ACC provided Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, giving the Irish a full ACC schedule and a place in its title game. “It has been egregious,” Yormark reiterated. “It’s been egregious going after Jim Phillips, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...” Rumors had circulated about Notre Dame possibly leaving the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. However, the commissioner's public comments on Tuesday appear to make such a partnership unlikely in the immediate future. Notre Dame, who reached the CFP final last season, have indicated they are declining a postseason invitation after failing to qualify this season.