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P.J. Fleck calls Group of Five playoff idea ‘ridiculous’

By Brad Berreman

KALAMAZOO, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Western Michigan Broncos walks on the sideline in the third quarter against the Buffalo Bulls at Waldo Field on November 19, 2016 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
KALAMAZOO, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Western Michigan Broncos walks on the sideline in the third quarter against the Buffalo Bulls at Waldo Field on November 19, 2016 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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The idea of a separate college football playoff has been mentioned, but don’t count Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck among the advocates for it.

The Western Michigan Broncos are undefeated, but they had no real chance to earn one of four spots in this year’s College Football Playoff. They will play against Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl on Monday though, which is pretty much the best a school outside a Power 5 conference can do.

Earlier this week, Northern Illinois athletic director Sean Frazier suggested it’s time to have a “realistic conversation” about a playoff for the Group of Five conferences. ESPN’s Brett McMurphy reported there is a growing number of Group of Five officials in favor of a playoff specifically for those schools.

At Cotton Bowl media day on Saturday, Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck was asked about the idea of a Group of Five playoff. Safe to say, he’s not among the aforementioned group in favor of it.

Via MLive.com:

"“I do want to make one statement because it’s out there and my face is all over the place on it and I don’t know why,” Fleck said. “I absolutely love the way the Group of Five and the Power Five coincide and mix. Just because one AD makes a statement like that doesn’t mean the whole conference feels that way because I don’t feel that way at all.”"

"“In the old BCS system, we didn’t even have a chance. I am not, just so everybody understands, Western Michigan and I (we are not) in favor of this Group of Five national championship. That’s ridiculous.”"

It’s been 32 years since a non-Power 5 school won a national title, when BYU did it in 1984 (R.I.P. LaVell Edwards). In the three years of the current playoff system, the highest ranking Group of Five school has been Memphis (No. 13 in the 2015 initial rankings).

Related Story: Cotton Bowl preview and predictions: Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin

Fleck may not have to be concerned with the idea of a Group of Five playoff for much longer, as he should be a top candidate for a bigger job again around a year from now. But after conveniently being made the face of it after Frazier’s comments, Fleck’s feelings about a Group of Five playoff are absolutely clear.

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