24 teams. 10 conference champs. 14 at large teams. Then seed them according to whatever that egghead stat is that the ACC is borrowing from the CFP to use in its tiebreaker. The FCS has FEWER participating football programs than the FBS, and they do this. By percentage, 24 teams in a playoff for the FBS would still be more exclusive than any major pro league's postseason format. I see it as an ode to our uniquely American culture that the FBS doesn't do this. The Ohio State's and the Alabama's of the world think nobody else should have access to a national championship, and they've convinced the middle class have-nots that they'll lose their own access if even one lower class have-not is allowed into the party. So, we get the lie that an undefeated or one loss have not is not worthy of placement into the CFP, because, "they didn't play nobody, PAWL," while completely ignoring that, even if they wanted to, those teams can only play SEC and Big 10 programs if those programs agree to play them, which, of course, they don't. And, here we are, with an invitational "playoff" where 80% of the placement goes to the exact same tiny fraction of teams every year. And, since we decided we had to have a playoff and get rid of the BCS and everything that came before it, unless you're in the playoff, your season was a failure. If your team had any good players, some middle of the pack SEC or Big 10 program will just come and poach whoever they want, and then you're back to square one. Honestly, until something changes, this sport is screwed. I've been closely watching and invested in college football for almost a half century now, and the past decade, especially the last five years, has been the first time in my life that I've really thought it has gotten a lot worse than it used to be. It sucks now. I feel no excitement for its return.

conferences need to consolidate to at most 4.

where the last official top 25 poll came out at the end of the regular schedule, there were no conference championship games, there was no real "national championship," everyone was sent to the best bowl game they could arrange for themselves, and then we all just talked about who we thought the best team was. I might sound insane, but with the benefit of hindsight, I honest-to-God think that was better and more interesting setup than the CFP and this facile "only the Big 10 and SEC really matter" BS we have now, pretty much all thanks to Disney, Fox, and CBS.

old bowl system. Remember, not one had access to th Rose Bowl except Big 10 and PAC schools. That is a monopoly, and today's "P2" isn't much different except they still have to win it on the field. Just a few years ago TCU beat the undefeated BIG Champion Michigan. The playoffs is where it's at IMO.

Bowl. Growing up, I always considered that a Big 10 (or, "Western Conference" if you're really an old timer, which was their formal name until sometime in the 1980's I think) vs. Pac 8 thing. I never was sitting around sulking like, "golly gee, it's unfair that VT can't play in the Rose Bowl!" Then again, I used to think it was awesome to see VT in the Independence Bowl, and the biggest thing in the known universe to see them play in the Peach Bowl. You can only imagine the electricity crackling through my brain the first and second time they played in the Sugar Bowl.

to have 30+ members, it doesn't mean the other FBS conferences have to follow that same path. Plus, there is no financial benefit to try to consolidate 6 conferences into 4 conferences because the money (pizza) pie is not changing anytime soon.

ranking system that 6 G schools would ever qualify for the playoffs throughout history. Unless there is some sort of revenue sharing between the conferences, they just can not compete with the power conferences on a regular basis. If VT was undefeated and the top seed, why should they risk injuries against the 6th ranked G6 conference champion? I'm all for inclusion and expanding the playoffs, but a 3 or 4 loss Akron MAC champion does not have any business in the playoffs IMO. Now if the Zips ever field a team that is ranked in any season, that is a different story. ** Edited by Big12 guy at 7/29/2026, 11:35:28 AM

If Akron does what they have to do to win their conference, who is anyone to tell them they suck and have no business playing with other conference champions?

are more "deserving" of participating in the FBS Playoffs. The P2+2 have already shown that and will likely show it again this year because some P2+2 teams will play an easier schedule (OOC and conference) than other P2+2 teams. If you have any doubts to that statement, then all you need to do is compare UVA's 2026 football schedule to VT's 2026 football schedule. It is possible UVA may qualify for the FBS Playoffs and only played 1 or 2 ranked teams during the regular season and CCG. While VT could end up playing 3 or 4 ranked teams and be the "better" team, but not selected for the FBS Playoffs because its record was 7-5, 8-4, or 9-3. The ONLY reason to consolidate the G conferences is to free up more spaces for "less deserving" P2+2 teams to back their way into the FBS Playoffs. If that is what the public truly wants, then the P2s and/or +2s might as well go do their own thing in all sports.

belong?" For example, if Akron goes 10-3 (including the CCG) and the 3 losses are to #1 Ohio State (34-24), #15 Notre Dame (29-28), and #13 TAMU (31-27), then do you still believe "they don't belong?" Particularly if that Akron team is not ranked for whatever reason (think office politics). My point is no one can predict the future. So if a decision or conclusion (based on an opinion) is going to be made today that will impact the future, then you better be sure you are 100% correct (today).

begs otherwise. Why again should a top seed risk injury to the 6th ranked G school? They would sit out their starters. In Basketball, one or two players can make a difference. Give access to the conference champions, as I'm OK with that, but there is nothing preventing all of the FCS schools declaring they are now FBS conferences for the money grab. Access with common sense?

declaring they are now FBS conferences" is incorrect. When the moratorium was lifted in the early 2000s, the bylaws were amended to place specific requirements in order for a school to switch from DI-FCS to DI-FBS. For any public school, the only way they can join is if an existing FBS conference invites them and they are able to satisfy the other requirements (stadium capacity, full scholarships instead of equivalent scholarships, Title IX, etc). While private schools have to satisfy those same requirements, but are given extra ways (aka hardship waivers) to offset the lack of state funding advantage public schools have at the moment. If a top seeds decides to rest their starters against the 6th ranked G school, then they are taking the risk they could lose the game. Plus, the P2+2 schools may not be able to stockpile talent even though they have an advantage in NIL money. If the more talented players don't want to wait for their turn to play, then eventually more G schools will see an increase of talented players on their roster. Basically it creates a trickle down effect that will impact DII, DIII, NAIA DI, and NAIA DII schools.

Playoffs, I believe the number of automatic bids has increased to 11 with the MEAC and SWAC being the only conferences that don't receive an automatic bid.

technically ends Thanksgiving Weekend which is also the start of the First Round of the FCS Playoffs. However, teams from both conferences are technically eligible to be selected as an at-large team. Instead, the MEAC Champion and the SWAC Champion played in the Heritage Bowl. When the MEAC decided it wanted its champion to participate in the FCS Playoffs, the Heritage Bowl was discontinued and the SWAC decided to add a CCG even though it only had 10 members. Technically the SWAC was in violation of the bylaws for all those years, but the schools and NCAA (HQ) opted never to pursue for various reasons. Also, it is worth mentioning that the format the SWAC used (2 divisions and round robin conference schedule or 9 games) is essentially the same format the NCAA later adopted to allow the Big XII to host a CCG when it only had 10 members. Then a few years ago the MEAC decided it no longer wanted to participate for competitive reasons. As a result, the MEAC Champion went back to playing the SWAC Champion in the Celebration Bowl (aka Heritage Bowl 2.0) and the SWAC kept its CCG which is still played the same weekend as the other CCGs. Also, it is worth mentioning that the MEAC is having membership trouble. FAMU and Bethune-Cookman left the MEAC to join the SWAC. While schools like Hampton left the MEAC to join non-historically black conferences because history has shown that the traditional conferences offer HBCUs a brighter future in athletics (think finances). HBCUs historically have funding issues (academics and athletics), so they are more dependent on the revenue from the conferences than most schools. Hence why Tennessee State made the decision to join the Ohio Valley Conference back in the '70s or '80s. Plus, not as many African-Americans are as interested in attending a HBCU as before, so it isn't as uncommon for a HBCU's non-revenue roster to have no African-Americans on it. At the very least, it helps paint the picture as to why the MEAC made the decision it did in football.

I would go with rankings that emphasize most top 20 wins and penalize heavily losses to teams that aren’t in the top 20. You can publicize rankings during the year, but the only ones that matter for selection are once the season ends after the Army Navy game (only game played the weekend after Thanksgiving) PS I open week zero with all schools with an out of Conference Rivalry games, and I end the regular season with in Conference Rivalry games. Everyone gets a bye after Thanksgiving weekend, but Army Navy the Saturday after Thanksgiving. They play in the afternoon, and the matchups are announced after their game. Playoff starts the next week, with highest ranked teams getting home games. Regular season will matter a lot because everyone will want that first round home game advantage. ** Edited by Stech at 7/29/2026, 7:28:08 AM

to 24 with no byes?

round get a bye. Probably should have originally said “if” they go to 24, which seems like where the momentum is headed right now and the reason I mentioned it, but I think 16 is enough IMHO.

ridiculous format to have 4 byes in the second round for a number of reasons.

my preference, but if they insist on expanding to 24, we literally can't have zero byes in the first round, I hate that. If all 24 play, 12 teams win. How do you bracket 12 teams in the second round without making it even more ridiculous? To avoid byes later, 8 teams have to get a bye in the first round. It's the only way the math cleanly gets us to a Sweet 16. So why not just expand to 16 and leave it is my point, got it? ** Edited by Stech at 7/29/2026, 8:06:57 PM

your point and I would not disagree with 16 if the playoff must expand further. I responded to what you previously posted. Got it?

Seeding is straight based on playoff rankings. Wild card round, 8 teams and the four games are played on campus First round, 16 remaining teams played on campus. Matchups not set until after wild card round so that teams don’t know who they are playing and have extra prep time. Second round of 8 teams, the four games played in the big bowls. Third round of 4 teams, two games in big bowls. Champ game rotated between LA, Vegas, Atlanta or other indoor/warm weather stadiums. No outdoor games in NY in January or anything like that.

should be done using the old BCS formula. A lot of people griped about it, but the majority of the time the BCS got it right.

IMO, there is no "right" answer with football rankings. If there were, there wouldn't be eleventy brazillion rating methods out there

entry similar to the NCAA B'ball tourney. That gives you 10 teams then you either have 6 more qualifiers from the best teams left or if you have a 24 team playoff then you have 14 teams to fill from the best of the rest. Never know when a major upset would happen. Just my 2 cents

The remaining bids are at-large bids which should mean every team in the Top 25 should qualify for the playoffs. Keep the conference championship game because the game could determine which team makes the playoffs and which team ends up in the Football NIT. What is the Football NIT? I am glad you asked the question. The Football NIT would replace the bowl games and it would be a 32-team playoff too. The players on the winning team will receive prize money and the winning team would secure an automatic birth in next year's FBS Playoffs regardless of record.

I would go with either 8 or 16. If eight, then automatic bids to the P4 champions, and four at large bids including one for the highest ranked non p4 conference champion. If you go 16, my preference would be automatic bids for all conference champions, then at large bids for the highest ranked teams after that. I like conference champions making the playoffs.

No more than 16 the way it is headed. I also desire smaller conference with regional looks. I know that is out.

...and having the division winners automatically advance. This would be possible with a larger playoff, while also still allowing for several at-large bids.