seeding the same as you would in the basketball tournament. If Alabama gets upset in their conference championship, they don't make the playoffs. They didn't earn it despite being probably the best team in the country. Maybe we, as the general public overestimated Alabama. Maybe they aren't really the best team in the country. They can win their conference championship, get in the playoffs, and prove it on the field.

I think the fact that Ohio State is likely going to get into the playoffs despite not even playing in the conference championship game is a joke. It means some committee is determining who the best 4 teams are rather than allowing teams that showed they were "the best" by winning their conference championship. Auto-bids for the playoffs is the only way to ensure you have at least 5 teams that earned their way in and then you can offer 3 spots to teams the committee believes to be deserving. I actually would prefer a playoff with champions from all FBS conferences. Allow the Western Michigans to at least have a chance to prove themselves. Maybe they get murdered but they got there because they earned it. I know there is no way they would ever open it up that much but I think it would be cool.

I don't see it as diluting. I see it as way more interesting because it allows for some intrigue come conference championship time. I would care about the Oklahoma Oklahoma State game. I love that there are teams in the NCAA tourney that technically don't belong there because they really aren't one of the top 64. They played their way in though and get to go up against a Duke or somebody. They have a chance.