Big 12’s Yormark Criticizes Notre Dame AD’s ‘Egregious’ CFP Response

In a recent statement, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark strongly criticized comments made by Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua regarding the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process. Yormark labeled Bevacqua’s remarks about Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Commissioner Jim Phillips as “egregious” and “totally out of bounds.”

Background on Notre Dame’s CFP Exclusion

Notre Dame finished the college football season with a commendable 10-2 record, including a ten-game winning streak. Despite their strong performance, they were excluded from the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket. Instead, they ended up as the first team out, ranking below ACC member Miami, which defeated them 27-24 in Week 1.

Response from Notre Dame

Bevacqua expressed deep disappointment over the exclusion, describing it as “the ultimate gut punch.” Following this, Notre Dame announced it would not participate in a bowl game, specifically declining to play against BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, which is tied to the ACC.

ACC’s Actions Under Scrutiny

During a press conference, Bevacqua accused the ACC of a concerted effort to undermine Notre Dame through social media, particularly by comparing Miami’s successes to those of the Fighting Irish. He found it concerning that the ACC Network aired a marathon of the highly publicized Notre Dame-Miami game the previous week.

• Bevacqua anticipated an apology for the social media posts but received none.
• He speculated that the posts originated from a low-level staffer’s indiscretion.
• The treatment from the ACC has, according to Bevacqua, caused “permanent damage” to Notre Dame’s relationship with the conference.

Historical Context

Despite having 24 athletic teams affiliated with the ACC, Notre Dame’s football team operates independently. The university had a scheduling agreement with the ACC established in 2014, ensuring they face at least five ACC teams annually. Notre Dame temporarily competed in the ACC during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when many conferences limited their schedules.

Yormark’s Commentary

Yormark defended Phillips, stating that it was egregious for Bevacqua to criticize him, especially given that the ACC had previously supported Notre Dame during the pandemic.

Commissioner Phillips’ Statement

In response to the unfolding controversy, Phillips emphasized Notre Dame’s value to the ACC. He affirmed the conference’s commitment to advocate for all its football programs during the CFP selection process, clarifying that at no point was Notre Dame deemed unworthy of inclusion.

Moving Forward

After his initial strong critiques, Bevacqua moderated his tone, suggesting that while the situation strained relationships, he believed healing was possible. “I’m not going to be overly dramatic here,” he stated regarding the potential for reconciliation.

This ongoing dialogue raises important questions about the dynamics within college football conferences and the preferences of key programs like Notre Dame.