You can make a clear argument for a very good number of teams. You want to include conference champs, great.... but it's hard to defend also leaving out Ohio State in that situation. But it's also hard to leave out the team who wins the league (especially if that team ends up being Penn State, who beat Ohio State).

What I can see happening is that the playoff expands to 8. Any conference champion (any league) who finishes with a playoff ranking of 12 or higher is automatically in the playoffs. After that, the playoff participants are the next highest ranked teams.

Can't wait to hear the crying from #8 though the first year #11 wins their conference and jumps them to get in.