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During a notable statement, Brett Yormark declared that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “totally out of bounds” for recent remarks concerning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The Source of the Controversy

Notre Dame maintains a football scheduling alliance with the ACC and is a full member in all other sports. The AD has argued that the ACC actively damaged Notre Dame’s bid to enter the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to pushing for the selection of the University of Miami.

“The ACC does wonderful things for Notre Dame, but we bring significant football value to the ACC, and we didn’t understand why you would make an effort to try to damage us in this selection,” the athletic director stated.

Miami eventually earned the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, mostly due to winning the direct contest between the two schools. Bevacqua additionally stated that the ACC ran a targeted social media campaign over multiple weeks demonstrating its preference for Miami.

An Egregious Response

Later on Tuesday, Yormark responded to the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.

“I think his conduct has been out of line,” Yormark said. “He is completely out of bounds in his method and if he was in the room, I’d tell him the same thing.”

The pushback is particularly striking given Bevacqua’s prominent position. He sits on the College Football Playoff Management Committee alongside the ten FBS conference commissioners, representing the concerns of football independent Notre Dame.

Historical Context and Speculative Rumors

The commissioner further highlighted the support the ACC offered Notre Dame in the Covid-affected 2020 season, providing the Irish a full conference schedule and a place in its title game.

“It has been egregious,” he reiterated. “It’s been unacceptable attacking Jim Phillips, when they helped Notre Dame during Covid...”

Talk had spread about Notre Dame possibly leaving the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, the commissioner's strong comments on Tuesday seem to make such a scenario highly improbable in the immediate future.

Notre Dame, who reached the CFP championship game last season, have announced they will decline a postseason invitation after failing to qualify this year.