FORT WORTH, Tex. — American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco marked the start of the AAC men’s basketball tournament Thursday by releasing a statement that once again took issue with what Aresco believes is an unhealthy division between Power 5 and Group of 5 conferences at the FBS level.

“In recent weeks I have seen references to the ‘Power Five’ in interviews and public conversations which suggest that the P5 is virtually the exclusive focus in college athletics,” Aresco wrote in the statement. “This is profoundly misguided, especially in the current environment.”

Aresco spoke with The Athletic on Thursday afternoon from Dickies Arena, the host venue for the AAC tournament, to expand on his comments and what he believes is the negative stigma the power-conference distinction has created for the AAC and others.

Time to ‘rethink’ the divide?

“What’s with this P5/G5 business? It’s time to rethink it,” Aresco told The Athletic. “Let’s just talk about FBS schools. Let’s give everybody a fair shake.”

In the wake of the more recent conference realignments and the upcoming expansion of the College Football Playoff to a 12-team format, Aresco has been increasingly bothered by the continued separation of P5 and G5 programs within the public…