tournament and would create a December Madness type of an event.  The irrelevant bowls could be repurposed to something meaningful, teams would make more money, and the whole process would be infinitely more meritocratic.  Maybe even go to 32!  You would have 2 - 3 games in December and then two in January for the final four.

There would be no question every year that the best team won the championship.

Eight makes it a little better but sixteen or thirty-two would be perfect.