ESPN reported Thursday morning that certain Group of Five officials are considering breaking away and forming a separate playoff from the Power Five conferences, feeling that it would be more effective for their respective programs. Sean Frazier, the athletic director for Northern Illinois, was quoted in support of such a move and even gave a framework and has been active in advocating for it in other media, while Mike Aresco, the commissioner of the American Athletic Conference, voiced fierce opposition to the move.
The Playoff, which is hosted by ESPN in coordination with the NCAA, has festered in controversy from the beginning, with talks of expansion reaching a head after this year’s Four Teams In were announced.