{"id":8684,"date":"2025-12-10T01:04:54","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T01:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/big-12-commissioner-bevacqua-cfp\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T01:04:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T01:04:54","slug":"big-12-commissioner-bevacqua-cfp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/big-12-commissioner-bevacqua-cfp\/","title":{"rendered":"Big 12 commissioner slams Notre Dame AD over CFP, ACC tirades"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark publicly rebuked Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua this week after Bevacqua accused the ACC of campaigning against the Irish during the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process. Yormark called Bevacqua\u2019s remarks \u201ctotally out of bounds\u201d on Tuesday, after Bevacqua raised concerns Monday on The Dan Patrick Show and again at a press conference. The dispute follows the CFP committee\u2019s selection of Alabama and Miami as the final two at-large teams, a choice that left BYU out and left the Big 12 with a single representative, Texas Tech. At the time of reporting, Bevacqua has said he spoke with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey about the CFP format, but there is no public record of a direct exchange between Bevacqua and Yormark.<\/p>\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Brett Yormark (Big 12) publicly criticized Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua on Tuesday, calling his approach \u201ctotally out of bounds.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Pete Bevacqua voiced on-air and at a press conference that the ACC ran a social media push he viewed as attacking Notre Dame during CFP debate.<\/li>\n<li>The CFP committee selected Alabama and Miami as the final two at-large teams; BYU was not chosen.<\/li>\n<li>The Big 12 received one CFP berth: Texas Tech; Yormark had hoped for multiple selections, including BYU.<\/li>\n<li>Bevacqua confirmed a conversation with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey about the CFP format; there is no known direct communication between Bevacqua and Yormark as of publication.<\/li>\n<li>Yormark said he\u2019s disappointed by the selection outcomes but ultimately believes the committee did a fair job.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The College Football Playoff expanded conversations and politics have intensified as conferences and independents jockey for access and representation. Notre Dame, although independent in football, has a long-standing association with the ACC in other sports and has been a focal point in recent CFP debates because of its national profile. With the CFP selection process scrutinized more than ever, conference leaders and athletic directors have increasingly used public statements and social channels to press their cases.<\/p>\n<p>Big 12 leadership entered the season hoping for stronger committee recognition, particularly for BYU after its move into the conference. Historically, conference reputations and media narratives can influence perceptions of team resumes; that pressure has encouraged commissioners to defend their members publicly. Those dynamics set the stage for a clash once the CFP at-large decisions were announced and some finalists from Power Five leagues were chosen over high-profile Group of Five or newly aligned teams.<\/p>\n<h2>Main event<\/h2>\n<p>On Tuesday, Brett Yormark, who became Big 12 commissioner in July 2022, criticized Pete Bevacqua\u2019s public comments about the ACC and its commissioner, Jim Phillips. Speaking via Sports Business Journal and on X, Yormark described Bevacqua\u2019s tone as \u201cegregious\u201d and \u201ctotally out of bounds,\u201d and said he would give similar blunt feedback if the two met in person. Yormark\u2019s rebuke followed Bevacqua\u2019s allegation that the ACC mounted an active social campaign aimed at Notre Dame\u2019s CFP prospects.<\/p>\n<p>Bevacqua first aired his concerns on The Dan Patrick Show on Monday and repeated the point at a Tuesday press conference, stressing respect for ACC member institutions while criticizing what he described as a conference-organized attack on Notre Dame\u2019s program. He emphasized that his issue was not with ACC universities or Miami but with the method and tone of the campaign. Bevacqua also said he had texted Dan Radakovich to congratulate Miami on its selection and had spoken with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey about CFP format questions.<\/p>\n<p>Yormark also addressed the Big 12\u2019s own outcome: the conference landed a single CFP representative, Texas Tech, rather than multiple teams including BYU, which had been a significant push from some Big 12 constituencies. He expressed disappointment about BYU but said he accepted the committee\u2019s work overall, calling the result &#8220;progress over perfection.&#8221; At the time of reporting, neither Yormark nor Bevacqua had confirmed any one-on-one conversation about the exchange beyond the comments made publicly.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; implications<\/h2>\n<p>The public exchange between two high-profile administrators highlights growing tensions around CFP selection narratives. When commissioners and ADs take disputes public, it can shift attention from objective resume-based evaluation to questions of influence and optics. That risks eroding perceived neutrality around the selection committee unless officials reinforce transparent, criteria-driven decision-making.<\/p>\n<p>For the Big 12, limited CFP representation underscores the conference\u2019s ongoing challenge to affirm its national standing after realignment. Even as BYU joined the league and provided marquee matchups, committee voters prioritized other resumes. That gap could influence future scheduling, nonconference contracts, and how conferences present metrics and context to the CFP committee.<\/p>\n<p>For Notre Dame, allegations that a rival conference actively campaigned against it complicate relations with the ACC and could strain informal cooperation between conferences on scheduling and television windows. If such tactics become a norm, conferences may feel compelled to respond publicly, increasing friction between commissioners and creating a cycle of retaliatory messaging rather than private resolution.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Subject<\/th>\n<th>Outcome<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Big 12 CFP berths (this selection)<\/td>\n<td>1 (Texas Tech)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Final two at-large selections<\/td>\n<td>Alabama (SEC), Miami (ACC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>BYU (Big 12)<\/td>\n<td>Not selected<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Summary of selection outcomes referenced in reporting; reflects CFP committee\u2019s final at-large decisions and Big 12 representation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The table above isolates the core outcomes that prompted public comments: the committee\u2019s choice of Alabama and Miami as the last at-large teams and the Big 12\u2019s single berth. Those facts framed both Bevacqua\u2019s frustration and Yormark\u2019s rebuttal. While one season\u2019s CFP results do not determine long-term conference standing, they drive short-term narratives and negotiating leverage in media and broadcast discussions.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Brett Yormark\u2019s public reaction was terse and pointed; he framed Bevacqua\u2019s conduct as inappropriate and emphasized collective accountability among leaders.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;I think his behavior has been egregious. He is totally out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I\u2019d tell him the same thing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Brett Yormark (Big 12 commissioner), via Sports Business Journal\/X<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Yormark paired criticism of tone with acceptance of the CFP results: he said he was disappointed BYU was not included but praised the committee\u2019s overall work. That dual message mixes public rebuke with institutional diplomacy, signaling a desire to defend members without escalating a prolonged feud.<\/p>\n<p>Pete Bevacqua characterized his remarks as defensive of Notre Dame\u2019s program and critical of what he described as an ACC social campaign; he also sought to clarify his respect for ACC institutions and offered congratulations to Miami.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We have the ultimate respect for our fellow universities in the ACC\u2026 it\u2019s not about Miami. What surprised us was how the ACC Conference really went on a social media campaign, in my opinion, attacking our football program.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Pete Bevacqua (Notre Dame AD), Dan Patrick Show \/ press conference<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: How CFP at-large selections work<\/summary>\n<p>The College Football Playoff selection committee evaluates teams based on win-loss records, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, conference championships, and other contextual factors. While the process is governed by the committee\u2019s stated criteria, narrative and public perception can still shape debate around borderline teams. Commissioners and ADs may lobby formally through data submissions or informally via public statements; however, the committee has maintained that its deliberations are independent and based on its established rubric.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether the ACC\u2019s social media activity was centrally coordinated by conference leadership rather than by individual member programs or supporters remains unconfirmed.<\/li>\n<li>Whether the ACC campaign, if coordinated, materially affected CFP committee voting patterns is unproven and not supported by public committee records.<\/li>\n<li>Any private conversations between Yormark and Bevacqua beyond what\u2019s been publicly acknowledged (Sankey\u2019s call with Bevacqua) have not been confirmed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>The exchange between Yormark and Bevacqua signals a flashpoint in commissioner-level rhetoric around CFP outcomes: leaders are both defending members and wary of public critique that could escalate into sustained interconference conflict. While the immediate dispute centers on social media and selection choices this cycle, its broader consequence is to raise questions about how commissioners coordinate privately and speak publicly about perceived slights.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, expect increased attention to how conferences present teams\u2019 resumes to the committee and how commissioners manage disputes behind closed doors. The CFP committee\u2019s credibility hinges on perceived impartiality; sustained public friction among conference leaders could prompt calls for clearer engagement protocols or more explicit disclosure of lobbying activity.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/news\/brett-yormark-calls-out-pete-bevacqua-over-college-football-playoff-jim-phillips-criticisms-his-behavior-has-been-egregious\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">On3 (sports media) \u2014 original report summarizing comments and reactions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsbusinessjournal.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sports Business Journal (industry trade) \u2014 referenced X post and commissioner remarks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedanpatrickshow.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Dan Patrick Show (broadcast media) \u2014 platform where Bevacqua first aired comments<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/collegefootballplayoff.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">College Football Playoff (official) \u2014 selection committee and format information<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark publicly rebuked Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua this week after Bevacqua accused the ACC of campaigning against the Irish during the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process. Yormark called Bevacqua\u2019s remarks \u201ctotally out of bounds\u201d on Tuesday, after Bevacqua raised concerns Monday on The Dan Patrick Show and again &#8230; <a title=\"Big 12 commissioner slams Notre Dame AD over CFP, ACC tirades\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/big-12-commissioner-bevacqua-cfp\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Big 12 commissioner slams Notre Dame AD over CFP, ACC tirades\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Big 12 commissioner slams Notre Dame AD over CFP, ACC tirades | SportsWire","rank_math_description":"Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark rebukes Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua over accusations about an ACC campaign during CFP selections; context, quotes, and implications.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Brett Yormark,Pete Bevacqua,College Football Playoff,ACC,Big 12","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8684"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8684\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}