Big 12’s Yormark Criticizes Notre Dame AD for CFP Snub Comments
The upcoming College Football Playoff (CFP) meeting is set to take place in Miami next month, coinciding with the national championship game. This meeting promises to be noteworthy, given recent comments made by Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua regarding his team’s exclusion from this year’s playoff. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has publicly criticized Bevacqua for his remarks.
Brett Yormark’s Criticism of Notre Dame’s Athletic Director
At the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum, Yormark expressed his disapproval of Bevacqua’s reaction to Notre Dame being left out of the 12-team playoff. He described Bevacqua’s behavior as “egregious,” particularly highlighting comments made towards fellow conference commissioner Jim Phillips. Yormark pointed out that the decision to order the rankings included transparency concerning the influence of head-to-head matchups between teams.
Context of the Situation
- Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has openly criticized Notre Dame’s handling of their playoff exclusion.
- Bevacqua has voiced his disappointment regarding the selection committee’s decisions.
- Notre Dame was flipped with Miami in the final rankings, which has caused significant backlash.
Yormark emphasized that while there are differing opinions on team ranking, the selection committee’s process aims for continual improvement. He remarked, “I think they got it right,” although he acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the performance of BYU in the rankings.
Notre Dame’s Reaction to CFP Snub
Notre Dame’s administration, particularly Bevacqua, has been vocal about their discontent. Interviewing with multiple media platforms, he specifically pointed fingers at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for their apparent preference for full-time members over partial members. This has indicated a growing frustration from the Notre Dame side following their playoff exclusion.
Future Implications
The upcoming discussions in Miami are expected to heat up further, given the recent exchanges between commissioners. Whether these conversations remain constructive or escalate into more heated debates is yet to be seen.
Both Yormark and Bevacqua’s comments reflect the ongoing complexities and tensions surrounding the College Football Playoff. As the postseason approaches, this dialogue will play a crucial role in shaping the future of college football’s playoff selection process.
