What it might have looked like with 8 teams

[SWC75]

any undefeated team left out who played a decent schedule could still win their bowl convincingly and claim at least co crown depending on the outcome of other bowl game.
present system allows for a team never to be ranked top 3 all season to win the crown.

Auburn in 2004 won their bowl game and everybody said, "Well it wasn't the national championship game so they can't national champion."

We were never ranked in the top 3 all season when we won the basketball crown but we were the legitimate champion because we won the tournament. The important thing is to have all the teams in the tournament that, by the standards we have established over the years for what a national champion is to be in the tournaments. And for everyone in a division to have a shot at the championship if they keep beating the team in front of them. We are still well shot of that, as I have demonstrated in this and my subsequent post on this subject.

What it might have looked like with 16 teams

 

[SWC75]

I doubt there will be any years with 5 undefeated teams. So the 4team playoff works.

1973 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings

(Alabama's one loss was to Notre Dame in a bowl game. Ohio State and Michigan tied each other.)

 

[SWC75]

It doesn't really matter how big they expand people will complain about who isn't in. NCAAT in men's basketball invites 68 teams and we have people complaining that ABC University who was 17-12 doesn't get an invite.

The important thing is that the team left out is not a team anybody thinks of as a national championship contender. Then the tournament is big enough to be a valid national championship tournament. .

 

[NYCorange]

The important thing is that the team left out is not a team anybody thinks of as a national championship contender. Then the tournament is big enough to be a valid national championship tournament. .

Completely agreed. Georgia could easily be the best team this year. We are also forgetting that Ohio State was the 4th seed and almost left out for Baylor or TCU the inaugural year of the playoff, and then proceeded to manhandle Alabama and Oregon to win it. If the big12 had a conference championship, Ohio state probably doesn't make the playoff. That alone is enough reason the move to 8.

 

[SWC75]

Why in God’s name would we need 8 teams? The only two real contenders has been clear all season. Did anyone expect a final that didn’t include both Alabama and Clemson? Clemson played deep into their bench in the second half and still boat raced ND. I would assert that most seasons, but not every one, the top two football teams is fairly clear. The only reason to go to 8 is the almighty $$$.

Apparently it was only one. Does that mean they shouldn't have played the game?