Yes, I need a hobby. I get that. This is what happens when you stop actually coaching college football and have time on your hands. I really think I may have come up with a solution.
Here is my solution to the College Football Playoffs and the age-old debate on who should get in. I know big money runs the show, but I think this would make everyone else happy. The match-ups are now more local which allows fans to travel to see their teams play each week. Also, every team has a "chance" to qualify. Here it goes. (Stay with me, it's long......and feel free to rip it apart with INTELLIGENT conversation, but I would love to open the debate.)
THE PLAN:
4 Regions
2 Conferences per Region
4 Divisions per Conference
THE PLAYOFFS
2 Division Champions play for a Conference Championship
2 Conference Champions play for a Regional Championship
4 Regional Champions play i n the Semi-Finals
Non-Playoff Teams Bowl Eligibility Rules will apply
Bowl games played as normal
THE SCHEDULE
Teams will play a 12 game schedule
7-8 Division games required. Teams have flexibility to schedule rivals or cupcakes for their non-division opponents.
Non-Division games will count for tie breaker
Non-Conference games will count for a tie breaker
Playoff games begin the first weekend of December
Division Champions head to the Playoffs
Non-Division Champions head to Bowl Games
THE REGIONS
REGION 1--THE NORTHEAST
NORTHEAST--EASTERN CONFERENCE
Mason Division:
Army
Buffalo
Boston College
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Penn State
Rutgers
Syracuse
Temple
Dixon Division:
Marshall
Maryland
Navy
Old Dominion
Pittsburgh
Virginia
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
NORTHEAST--WESTERN CONFERENCE
Ohio Valley Division:
Akron
Bowling Green
Cincinnati
Kent State
Miami (OH)
Ohio
Ohio State
Toledo
Great Lakes Division:
Ball State
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Michigan
Michigan State
Notre Dame
Purdue
Western Michigan
REGION 2--THE SOUTHEAST
SOUTHEAST--EASTERN CONFERENCE
Carolinas Division
Charlotte
Clemson
Duke
East Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina State
South Carolina
Wake Forest
Everglades Division
Central Florida
Florida
Florida Atlantic
Florida International
Florida State
Georgia Southern
Miami (FL)
South Florida
SOUTHEAST--WESTERN CONFERENCE
Smoky Mountain Division
Appalachian State
Memphis
Middle Tennessee St.
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Southern Miss
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Deep South Division
Alabama
Auburn
Georgia
Georgia State
Georgia Tech
South Alabama
Troy
UAB
REGION 3--THE MIDWEST
MIDWEST--GREAT PLAINS CONFERENCE
Plains North Division
Kansas
Kansas State
Kentucky
Louisville
Minnesota
Nebraska
Western Kentucky
Wisconsin
Plains South Division
Arkansas
Arkansas State
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Iowa State
Northern Illinois
Northwestern
MIDWEST--GULF DIVISION
Lonestar Division
North Texas
Rice
Southern Methodist
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Christian
Texas San Antonio
Texas State
Gulf Coast Division
Baylor
Houston
Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Monroe
Louisiana State
Louisiana Tech
Missouri
Tulane
REGION 4--THE WILD WEST
WILD WEST--MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE
Rocky Mountain Division
Air Force
Colorado
Colorado State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Tulsa
Texas Tech
Wyoming
Desert Division
Arizona
Arizona State
BYU
New Mexico
New Mexico State
Texas El Paso
Utah
Utah State
WILD WEST--COASTAL CONFERENCE
Pacific Northwest Division
Boise State
Idaho
Nevada
Nevada Las Vegas
Oregon
Oregon State
Washington
Washington State
Pacific Coast Division
California
Fresno State
Hawaii
San Diego State
San Jose State
Stanford
UCLA
USC
The Playoff Bracket
Protection