So if Conference champ games were replaced by Power 5
Nov 11, 2018, 4:00 PM
regular season winners plus 3 at-large for 4 early first round games instead of the 5 CCGs we have now, here's what we'd be looking at heading into the final two weeks of the season.
Clemson, Michigan, and Alabama are undefeated in their respective leagues though each has a game or games to play to claim outright. Wazzu leads the Pac-12 but has a potentially decisive game with Washington for the Pac crown at season's end. OU and WVa are tied at 6-1 in the Big 12 with a game at WVA between the two wrapping the season (setting up a potential re-match one week later with current CCG game structure), provided WVa survives @ OK State next week.
Notre Dame is @ Syracuse and vs USC to wrap.
In short, I don't see anything ahead in the regular season that is taken away if the CFP expanded to 8 as above in how the season wraps nor how it all started and got to this point.
Current Power 5 Leaders:
Clemson OK / WVa Michigan Wash St Alabama
At-large leaders: Notre Dame Georgia Ohio State LSU UCF
11 teams with a legit shot, plus you have Syracuse out on the edge with a chance to beat ND and earn its way into the at-large debate, with the potential to leapfrog ND, LSU, and UCF, plus OSU if they lose to Michigan.
No extra games for student-athletes. No divisions needed in conferences (better regular season schedules for divisioned conferences). Every game matters. Only the worthy earn a spot. Bowl games still rule the postseason roost.