I believe that schools schedule OOC games based primarily to maximize revenue. If a school could host more top opponents without the obligation of a return trip they would do so. Top schools, however, want a home/away, so you get 2-3 directionals every year. Switching to conference champ-only participation in the playoff will not change that.

A playoff appearance is exceedingly rare, so a rational analyst would not plan everyday scheduling around that event - especially if the analyst is scheduling for a school that doesn't live in the top ten. A rational analyst will try to maximize guaranteed revenue so as to pay the bills, and that means at least six home games and the fullest possible stadium on Saturday.

We just had one of the most compelling college football seasons in history, and I cannot see a way to improve the system that doesn't have significant unintended consequences. For example, moving to conference champ-only participation would likely detract from the OOC season. In 2017, that change would have made the great OU-OSU matchup completely irrelevant. The OOC season would become nothing more than an exhibition season. In the NFL, non-division games at least count in the standings.

And anybody that has been through law school has to do an extreme hypothetical. What if Georgia had finished 7-5, won the SEC East, beaten an 8-4 Auburn squad in the SECCG, and taken the playoff berth, while Bama sat home at 11-1? That can't happen in the NFL, but it can when you render OOC meaningless.

At some point you have to say 'this is as good as it gets'. You can't model college ball after the NFL for two reasons: 1. there are too many college teams 2. they play too few games.

[Post edited by lawhokie at 12/10/2017 10:36AM]