Whatever happens I would like to see the P5 conferences adopt the same or at least a very similar scheduling system. The B1G, Big 12 and PAC 12 all play 9-game conference schedules, while the ACC and the SEC play 8-game conference schedules. In the ACC and the SEC teams in opposing divisions play against each other once every 6 years (unless they are partnered).
SU is partnered with Pitt so SU plays Pitt every year, but SU plays the other 6 Coastal teams once every 6 years. Under that system a home and an away with North Carolina takes 12 years. The same is true in the SEC across divisions, so a home and an away between Georgia and Alabama or Florida and Alabama etc takes 12 years. That's 2 games in 12 years unless those teams meet in the conference championship. The Olympics takes place 3 times in 12 years, so does the World Cup. The 8-game conference schedule is not good for college football fans. We will feel this a week from this Saturday when most ACC and SEC teams play cupcakes. One exception of course being the Cuse who will play Notre Dame in Yankee Stadium.
The downside of a 9-game conference schedule is that it can make becoming bowl eligible very challenging for mid-level teams. For example, Indiana beat Virginia a few weeks back and they have a pretty good team all around. But they are 4-5 and will be lucky to reach 6 wins. Four of those 5 loses were to Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State and Iowa with one other close loss to Minnesota. So now in order to become bowl eligible they need to win 2 out of 3 against Maryland, Michigan and Purdue. Tough task. Again, Indiana beat Virginia out of conference, and a week ago the Committee ranked Virginia #25 in the country. If Indiana had a 4th out of conference game like teams in the ACC and the SEC do they could schedule a cupcake in place of that 9th conference game. That fourth OOC game would be very helpful.
By the way, Purdue is 5-4 with the obvious big win over Ohio State. Purdue also beat Boston College 30-13. Purdue just needs to win one of its final 3 games to go bowling, and they play Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana. If they lose to Minnesota and Wisconsin then Indiana will have a chance to prevent Purdue from going to a bowl, and Indiana could enter that game with just 4 wins if they lose to Maryland and Michigan which is very possible. Indiana and Purdue are rivals and anyone could win that matchup. Neither team may go bowling, but with a 4th OOC game Purdue would certainly go bowling and Indiana would have a much better shot.
One more thing about Purdue. They are statistically very similar to SU. SU is #18 total offense and #96 total defense. Purdue is #13 on offense and #94 on defense. Like I mentioned above, Purdue beat BC 30-13. I'm saying that means SU will beat BC, but it is a nice comparison. On the flip side, Nebraska is also very similar to SU statistically. Nebraska is #20 on offense and #104 on defense. Nebraska is 2-7. But Nebraska's offense keeps getting better every week, and at this point despite just 2 wins no one is looking forward to facing that offense. Next season Nebraska should be strong in the win column.
Going forward I think all 5 of the Power 5 conferences need to play the same number of conference games whether it be 8 or 9. If the Playoff remains 4 teams I do not see the SEC or the ACC switching from an 8-game conference schedule to 9 games. That would put more pressure on too many teams. Plus, playing 9 conference games instead of 8 ends up affecting who is ranked in the Top 25. So, if the 4 team Playoff continues I think the B1G, the Big 12 and the PAC 12 all need to switch to an 8-game conference schedule. And then week #12 can be a complete wash in all 5 power conferences as most teams play cupcakes to rest up ahead of their week #13 rival games. Not great for the fans but it definitely levels the playing field among the P5 conferences.
