July 21--Missouri coach Gary Pinkel isn't a fan of independents, at least when it comes to college football.
Pinkel told ESPN that every college football team not in a conference shouldn't be eligible for the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame, BYU and Army currently don't belong to conferences. Navy will join the American Athletic Conference this season for football only.
Pinkel also said all of the power five leagues should play a championship game. The Big 12 is the only one among the power five that doesn't have a title game.
"I didn't say Notre Dame in particular -- everybody," Pinkel said to ESPN.com. "You don't have independents in the NFL. I just think it's difficult to assess a team that's not in a league. It's nothing against Notre Dame. It's just my opinion."
Pinkel also told ESPN's Brett McMurphy that Notre Dame should be given a year to join a conference.
"Safe to say he doesn't enjoy our independence as much as say we do," a Notre Dame source told the Tribune on Tuesday.
All other sports teams at the school are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the Irish have six ACC teams on their 2015 football schedule.
Notre Dame's first practice of the fall is scheduled for Aug. 7.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
