8 teams. 5 bids to highest ranked conference champions. Projected 1st round matchups:
9-2 Arizona St at 11-0 Oregon
10-1 Boise at 10-1 Ohio St
10-1 Miami at 10-1 Texas
10-1 Notre Dame at 10-1 Penn St.
Of course Georgia or SMU could get in by winning their conference championship. Everyone else, sorry.
Another option…..8 team playoff. No autobids to anyone. No guarantee to the G5. First round on campus. That’s it.
Your playoff based on current rankings:
(1) Oregon hosts (8) Tennessee
(4) Penn State hosts (5) Notre Dame
(2) Ohio State hosts (7) Georgia
(3) Texas hosts (6) Miami
4 awesome matchups there….all have cross-sectional appeal. Crown jewel is probably Georgia-Ohio State.
Now lets look at the next 6 teams in the rankings:
(9) SMU - boring, and no chance of win it
(10) Indiana - boring, and no chance to win it
(11) Boise State - boring, and no chance
(12) Clemson - name brand but no chance
8 teams is plenty.