I’ve been thinking along these same lines for quite a while, albeit approaching it from the top end as a way to solve the CFP “selection committee” problem. To wit: there are about 133 DI college football programs. My plan would create 8 conferences of 16 teams each, each split into two 8 team divisions. 16 x 8 = 128 - regulation gets us to that number. Playoff as follows: division winners play for conference titles. Conference champions play in 8 team playoff.
Combined with your ideas about the other bowl games being regulation/promotion contests, we’ve added interest and simplicity at both the top and the bottom.
I’ve been thinking along these same lines for quite a while, albeit approaching it from the top end as a way to solve the CFP “selection committee” problem. To wit: there are about 133 DI college football programs. My plan would create 8 conferences of 16 teams each, each split into two 8 team divisions. 16 x 8 = 128 - regulation gets us to that number. Playoff as follows: division winners play for conference titles. Conference champions play in 8 team playoff.
Combined with your ideas about the other bowl games being regulation/promotion contests, we’ve added interest and simplicity at both the top and the bottom.