Big 12 commish: Notre Dame AD's behavior 'egregious'

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark came to the ACC's defence, describing Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua's comments and behavior toward the conference as "egregious."

Bevacqua criticized the ACC earlier this week after Notre Dame was snubbed in favor of Miami for the College Football Playoff, saying the conference caused "permanent damage" to its relationship with the Fighting Irish and accusing it of "taking shots" at the program.

Notre Dame is independent in college football, but the school's other 24 sports are members of the ACC. Yormark called Bevacqua's response "totally out of bounds" and referenced the school's 10-game ACC schedule during the COVID season in 2020 as proof of the conference's past support.

"I think Pete's, his behavior has been egregious," Yormark said Tuesday. "It's been egregious going after (ACC commissioner) Jim Phillips, when they saved Notre Dame during COVID."

CFP chair Hunter Yurachek explained Sunday that BYU's loss in the Big 12 title game led the committee to put Miami ahead of Notre Dame based on its Week 1 head-to-head win over the Fighting Irish.

"BYU lost," Yormark said. "(Notre Dame and Miami) became closer together, head-to-head made a difference in that decision."

Notre Dame opted out of playing in a bowl game after being left out of the CFP. The Fighting Irish appeared inside the 12-team playoff in every CFP rankings this season except the final one.