For the past four seasons or so I have posted my college football playoff proposal. It's not perfect but it's definitely better than what we currently have and better than the four team playoff that will start next year.
This proposal is designed to have a playoff and keep the bowls intact. Basically, there is a 16 team playoff with each of the 10 conference champions plus six at-large teams being seeded. Using a BCS type formula, the teams are ranked 1-16 and seeded just like the NCAA basketball tournament.
Some of you are incensed that Louisiana-Lafayette, Rice and Bowling Green would be in the playoffs because there is not way in heck they are one of the best 16 teams in the country. Think of it this way though, they would be playing Florida State, Auburn, and Alabama thus giving those teams a reward for having a great regular season. Plus, every D-1 team is eligible for a national championship, no matter what conference they're in.
The higher seed plays at home since it's too hard for fans to travel around the country week after week if their team wins. Home games would sell out and generate a lot of money for both teams.
The first round would start on the first or second Saturday of December. The real, final, championship game would be held at a neutral location in large NFL-sized stadium (Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, Phoenix, LA) two weeks after the semi-finals. This season all CCGs would need to be played on November 30th. Rounds 1-3 of the playoffs would be played on December 7th, 14th, and 21st. The Championship game would be played on Monday, January 6th.
One caveat. Under Conan's plan, only two teams per conference are allowed in the tournament. This is to make sure it doesn't turn into an SEC post season tourney. Also, it limits the possibility of rematches between conference members.


Here's what the bracket would look like if it were held this season:

1. Florida State
16. Louisiana-Lafayette

8. Oregon
9. Oklahoma

5. Stanford
12. Louisville

4. Michigan State
13. Fresno State

6. Baylor
11. UCF

3. Alabama
14. Bowling Green

7. Ohio State
10. Clemson

2. Auburn
15. Rice

What about the bowls you ask? Under the Conan plan, the bowls would be ranked based on payout amounts. They would then be allowed to choose from the remaining teams not included in the tournament. The Rose Bowl would be the first to choose, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl would be the last. The Rose Bowl, for example, could choose to keep the PAC 12/Big 10 tie-in or choose a different team from another conference if they want to. Again, in under the Conan plan bowls can invite any available team once the bowls above them have invited their teams. There are no conference tie-ins. All bowl games would be played during the 16 days between the semi-final and the championship game (between December 22nd-January 5th)
Some bowls need to die or be allowed to take 5 win teams. I prefer they die.

2013-2014 Bowls and Payouts per team (in millions) :
1. Rose 18.0
2. Sugar 18.0
3. Fiesta 18.0
4. Orange 18.0
5. Capital One 4.3
6. Chik-fil-A 4.0
7. Cotton 3.6
8. Outback 3.5
9. Buffalo Wild Wings 3.3
10. Alamo 3.2
11. Gator 2.7
12. Russell Athletic 2.3
13. Holiday 2.0
14. Sun Bowl 2.0
15. Music City 1.9
16 Pinstripe 1.8
17. Texas 1.7
18. Belk 1.7
19. Liberty Bowl 1.4
20. AdvoCare V100 1.2
21. Heart Of Dallas Bowl 1.1
22. Maaco Las Vegas 1.1
23. BBVA Compass 1.0
24. Military 1.0
25. Fight Hunger .838
26. Little Caesars .750
27. GoDaddy.com .750
28. Hawaii .650
29. Armed Forces .600
30. Beef 'O'Bradys .538
31. Poinsettia .500
32. New Orleans .500
33. New Mexico .456
34. Famous Idaho Potato .325