OR, have automatic bids for the top 6 conference champions (after the CCGs), which somewhat incorporates Conference Championship Weekend into the playoff system, and then hold a 4-team wild card play-in for the last 2 spots.

SCENARIO 1

SOUTH REGION (Sugar Bowl)

#16 West Virginia @ #1 Alabama

#9 Florida @ #8 UCF

Winners play in the Sugar Bowl

EAST REGION (Orange Bowl)

#15 Kentucky @ #2 Clemson

#10 LSU @ #7 Michigan

Winners play in the Orange Bowl

NORTH REGION (Rose Bowl)

#14 Texas @ #3 Notre Dame

#11 Washington @ #6 Ohio State

Winners play in the Rose Bowl

WEST REGION (Cotton Bowl)

#13 Washington State @ #4 Georgia

#12 Penn State @ #5 Oklahoma

Winners play in the Cotton Bowl

SemiFinals winners advance to FINAL FOUR on the first Friday, Saturday, or Monday that is at least 7 days after New Year's day.

National Championship is 7 days or so after the Final Four.

SCENARIO 2

Conference Championship Weekend

SEC: Alabama v. Georgia

ACC: Clemson v. Pitt

Big12: Oklahoma v. Texas

B1G: Ohio State v. Northwestern

AAC: UCF v. Memphis

PAC: Washington v. Utah

MWC: Boise State v. Fresno State

Play-In Round (1 or 2 weeks after Conference Championship Weekend)

5-seed game: Florida @ Notre Dame

6-seed game: Michigan @ Georgia

Quarterfinal Round

Sugar Bowl: #1 Alabama (SEC) v. #8 Washington (PAC)

Orange Bowl: #2 Clemson (ACC) v. #7 UCF (AAC)

Cotton Bowl: #3 Oklahoma (B12) v. 6-seed winner

Rose Bowl: #4 Ohio State (B1G) v. 5-seed winner

FINAL FOUR

Quarterfinal winners

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Final Four winners