This post is not intended to disrespect any one person…

The idea that more teams in the playoffs “diminishes the regular season” is simply hogwash. And this idea has had traction for decades. The largest factors in dismissing the regular season over the last few years have been:
* the loss of rivalry games due to conference expansion. Teams need to get back to idea that beating an opponent in the regular season is worthwhile, regardless of their playoff positioning. For VT, beating uva always has meaning regardless of records. Same for beating UNC, WVU, etc.
* the competitive imbalance of conferences and money

Look at college basketball. The regular season has plenty of meaning for many teams even though there are 68 bids to the big dance. Adding teams did not weaken the regular season. The only thing that is weakened by more teams in the playoffs is conference championship games and tournaments. Conference basketball tournaments have been weakened by the fact that many teams are already “assured” of bids. The championship is not at meaningful as it was before 1975. The same will happen to football championship games - they will be less meaningful if both participants are already “in” the playoffs. But the regular season will be meaningful to more teams.

The NBA example is bogus. And the reason is… who cares if Milwaukee beats Houston? Fans these days identify with players more than teams. Pride in the “home team” and the glut of games has weakened the NBA regular season as much as anything else.

One could make the case that fewer teams in the playoffs weakens the regular season. If there are fewer teams, such that one loss kills your season, teams will stop scheduling the bitter rivalry games that make college football great. Wouldn’t it be better to see the Power 5 challenge themselves more and provide better games each week. They won’t do it if one OOC loss eliminates them.