At a public statement, Big 12 chief asserted that Notre Dame AD, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for recent comments concerning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Fighting Irish maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a participating member in other sports. Bevacqua has contended that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s bid to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to campaigning for the spot of the University of Miami.
“The ACC do great 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 damage us in this procedure,” Bevacqua stated.
The Hurricanes eventually secured the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the direct matchup between the two schools. Notre Dame's AD additionally stated that the ACC conducted a coordinated social media effort over several weeks indicating its preference for Miami.
Later on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner addressed the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
“My opinion is that his conduct has been unacceptable,” the commissioner commented. “He is totally out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I’d say to him the same thing.”
This public pushback is especially significant given Bevacqua’s prominent standing. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the interests of football independent Notre Dame.
The commissioner further highlighted the lifeline the ACC offered Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, providing the Irish a complete conference schedule and a berth in its title game.
“It has been egregious,” he reiterated. “It’s been egregious criticizing Jim Phillips, when they helped Notre Dame during Covid...”
Talk had circulated about Notre Dame possibly splitting with the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, the commissioner's public comments on Tuesday seem to make such a move highly improbable in the immediate future.
Notre Dame, who made the CFP final last season, have stated they are declining a postseason invitation after failing to qualify this season.
A seasoned gaming enthusiast with over a decade of experience in reviewing online casinos and sharing winning strategies.
