Top six ranked conference champions, 2 at large bids and seeding is decided by the committee (just like March Madness). In the event there aren't 6 ranked conference champions, that spot is forfeited and becomes an at large bid. Notre Dame would get preferential treatment (auto bid if ranked in top 8)

So, if the AAC or the MWC or the MAC gets their conference champion ranked, they get a spot in the CFP, but if they aren't they aren't included. You would be almost guaranteed to have all P5 champions in every playoff, along with 2 P5 at large teams.

In the event that there are two G5s that qualify for the CFP (which is unlikely), they would then have to prove that they are equal to P5s to win it all.

This makes the CCGs de facto playoff games for the better conferences, and allows teams to schedule more aggressive OOC matchups because they still control their own destiny even with an OOC loss.

I looked back at the last couple years to see what this would look like:

2016:

Champ #1 - #1 Alabama

Champ #2 - #2 Clemson

Champ #3 - #4 Washington

Champ #4 - #5 Penn State

Champ #5 - #7 Oklahoma

Champ #6 - #15 Western Michigan

At Large - #3 Ohio State

At Large - #6 Michigan

These teams would then be seeded to prevent rematches, with Western Michigan getting a chance at a national title. Now I know what you’re gonna say, they didn’t beat anyone, they don’t deserve it. Well, beat Bama, Penn State, then Clemson and they would ABSOLUTELY deserve to be crowned National Champions. Any team that goes 3-0 in this playoff would have built as big a case as any other team at being the best in the country.

How about 2015:

Champ #1 - #1 Clemson

Champ #2 - #2 Alabama

Champ #3 - #3 Michigan State

Champ #4 - #4 Oklahoma

Champ #5 - #6 Stanford

Champ #6 - #18 Houston

At Large - #5 Iowa

At Large - #7 Ohio State

We again see #1-#7 and the G5 representative. Houston this year worked #9 Florida State in the Peach Bowl remember? They were really good, and could’ve been given a shot. The least deserving team here is IMO Iowa, but they certainly wouldn’t have had the talent to beat 3 top teams in a row.

Now, let’s look at a controversial year when we have multiple G5 teams, 2009:

Champ #1 - #1 Alabama

Champ #2 - #2 Texas

Champ #3 - #3 Cincinnati

Champ #4 - #4 TCU

Champ #5 - #6 Boise State

Champ #6 - #7 Oregon

At Large - #5 Florida

At Large - #8 Ohio State

So even this controversial year, with two G5 teams being represented (and the ACC being left out), we still have #1-#8 included, and this is a very fair playoff.

What does cougarboard think about this playoff scenario? I think it would be awesome!