Yeah, yeah, they're both sports at the collegiate level. But they are vastly different and you can't say "Because X works in college basketball it will also work in college football."

How is it fair that Syracuse doesn't make the tournament (despite their superior resources), but Mt. St. Mary's is a staple? Because college basketball is very different. Last year, the ACC put 5 teams into the NCAA tournament, the lowest number of ACC teams since 2003. There are 15 teams in the ACC, so Syracuse would just have to be in the top third of their conference. Other years, the ACC has had as many as 9 teams in the tournament. So, in a historically down year for the ACC, Syracuse would just have to be in the top third of the conference. Mt. St. Mary's has one chance to make it to the NCAA tournament; Syracuse has at least 5.

I don't think the B10 would have a *much* higher chance at an at large bid. With the 12 team format, there are only 2 at-large spots. You are almost guaranteed to give an SEC team one of those bids, so you are competing for ONE spot with the Pac, Big 12, and ACC. That's a pretty slim chance. Yes, it's greater than zero, but you pretty much have to win your conference to get a shot.

Finally, yes, with regards to treating every conference the same as to *access* to the playoffs, we do treat them all the same. Each conference gets one spot. You're right, worse conferences would get lower seeds. But this restricts access to winning the playoffs, not actually getting in. As far as getting in goes, they are all equal.