Big 12 Conference Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Comments Following CFP Omission as ‘Totally Out of Bounds’
During a notable criticism, Big 12 chief stated that Notre Dame AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for recent remarks targeting the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Root of the Dispute
The Fighting Irish has a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a participating member in all other sports. Bevacqua has claimed that the ACC harmed Notre Dame’s opportunities to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead pushing for the spot of the University of Miami.
“They does wonderful things for Notre Dame, but we provide significant football value to the ACC, and we couldn't comprehend why you would go out of your way to try to hurt us in this process,” the athletic director remarked.
The Hurricanes ultimately received the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the direct meeting between the two programs. Bevacqua further alleged that the ACC ran a coordinated social media effort over several weeks indicating its preference for Miami.
A Strong Response
Later on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner responded to the criticism at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“My opinion is that his behavior has been unacceptable,” the commissioner stated. “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 response is especially striking given Bevacqua’s prominent standing. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the interests of independent Notre Dame.
Historical Support and Future Moves
The commissioner further remarked the assistance the ACC offered Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, providing the Irish a complete conference schedule and a berth in its championship game.
“His behavior has been egregious,” he reiterated. “It’s been egregious going after the ACC commissioner, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”
Talk had circulated about Notre Dame potentially splitting with the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. However, the commissioner's strong reprimand on Tuesday appear to make such a scenario unlikely in the immediate future.
Notre Dame, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have stated they will decline a postseason invitation after missing out this year.
