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At a notable statement, Big 12 chief asserted that Notre Dame's AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “entirely out of bounds” for recent criticisms targeting the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Root of the Dispute

The Fighting Irish maintains a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a participating member in other sports. The AD has contended that the ACC harmed Notre Dame’s chances to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead campaigning for the selection of the University of Miami.

“They does wonderful things for Notre Dame, but we provide significant football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would go out of your way to try to undermine us in this procedure,” the athletic director remarked.

The Hurricanes eventually secured the CFP berth over Notre Dame, largely due to winning the head-to-head contest between the two schools. Bevacqua further alleged that the ACC conducted a targeted social media campaign over several weeks showing its preference for Miami.

An Egregious Rebuke

Subsequently on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner responded to the allegations at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.

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

The pushback is especially striking given Bevacqua’s special role. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the concerns of independent Notre Dame.

Historical Context and Speculative Rumors

The commissioner further pointed out the lifeline the ACC provided Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, giving the Irish a full conference schedule and a berth in its championship game.

“It has been unacceptable,” he reiterated. “It’s been egregious criticizing the ACC commissioner, when they rescued Notre Dame during Covid...”

Rumors had circulated about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and aligning with the Big 12. However, Yormark's pointed reprimand on Tuesday appear to make such a scenario highly improbable in the near term.

Notre Dame, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have indicated they will decline a postseason invitation after missing out this season.