re: Scenario: the year where conference championships don't matter

The point, though, is that Delaney was certainly on the conference champ only train, and there is a scenario where he could get two schools into the playoff this year, which Im sure he and the conference would want. If Michigan wins out, Washington loses, I would argue that Penn St should be in the playoff and would have no issue with them being in there.
You also have a shot to get Ohio St in with Wisconsin or Penn St... either way, Im sure he probably feels differently about the situation today than he used to.