"The first piece is where the CFP might go and what, if any, conference limitations might be imposed. Not sure without more pieces of the puzzle it is possible yet to say who would be screwed. There is a significant part of the game remaining to be played."

But I read Finebaum a bit differently. First he made every effort possible to downplay ANYTHING that might come out of the potential alliance. It was almost as if he was saying, "they can't come up with anything because we already thought of all that...checkmate!". Maybe he's right, but I think he's making some assumptions about the other conferences that might not hold.

I would not put it past the alliance group to surface their own alternative CFP/Bowl plan. The Bowls/BCS were the last things the college presidents had control over. Maybe they want some of it back.

And I think he was trying too hard to not be concerned about the playoff expanding, suggesting that it is in the other conferences' best interest to expand rather than the SEC's.

The TX/OU stuff broke well after the CFP12 idea surfaced. So they all knew and I don't think there is any way that wasn't part of the TX/OU thinking...i.e., we can play in a really tough conference and still make the playoffs because of the additional slots.

I don't think anything changes re: CFP before 2025 and if everyone doesn't agree on an extension or modification, there is no guarantee it continues. Lots of players with leverage.