Gary Pinkel: No independents in the College Football Playoff

Gary Pinkel isn’t known for making headlines, but he spit some fire in Notre Dame’s direction Monday.

While at the ESPN’s Car Wash in Bristol, Connecticut, Pinkel said no independents should be allowed in the College Football Playoff. In fact, Pinkel suggested the Irish join a league.

Gary Pinkel said no independents in @CFBPlayoff. “Give Notre Dame year to join a league. They don’t have independents in NFL"

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) July 20, 2015

Army, BYU and Notre Dame are the only independents in college football.

The media took a strong opinion on Pinkel’s comments:

Dear college coaches, Please continue to compare college football to the NFL. Regards, Antitrust lawyers https://t.co/mrMFYOOxRo

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) July 20, 2015

Seriously, that Gary Pinkel take is just stupid on every level.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) July 20, 2015

My point is comparing anything in college football to the way things are done in the NFL is automatically dumb https://t.co/V2FJjrksfc

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) July 20, 2015

I used to care about Notre Dame being independent. Now, not so much. But seriously, can we stop comparing CFB to the NFL? Please?

— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) July 20, 2015

The opinion is fine, but the rationale is ridiculous. https://t.co/2y7LwpSmSk

— Matt Smith (@MattSmithCFB) July 20, 2015