Why/how a 6-team CFP and conf realignment would improve CFB

Advocates of an 8-team CFP w/automatic bids for P5 conference champs and a G5 push false narratives that it'll improve CFB and fan interest. But their very flawed CFP model not only makes it likely that some of the best FBS teams will be excluded from the CFP, it'll also reduce CFB's #1 appeal -- what CFB needs more of -- competitive regular season games that matter.

How to expand CFP opportunities and get more competitive & appealing regular season games:

FBS CFP - top 6 teams per committee rankings: No auto-bids. Rnd-1: #6@#3, #5@#4, #1/#2 bye. Rnd-2: R1 winners vs #1/#2. Final 1st Sat in Jan.

A top-6 CFP allows all 5 P5 conf champs & a G5 to get in and has key advantages over an 8-team with 6 auto-bids. Auto-bids for P5 conf-champs discourage scheduling good out-of-conf teams. The top-6 model with round-1 byes for #1 & #2 and home-fields for #3 & #4 encourages it -- in order to achieve higher seeding. Also, #8 at #1 and #7 at #2 games would probably be routs. Worst of all, 6 of 8 as auto-bids would result in undeserving multi-loss conf champs getting in over 1-loss non-champs with better resumés.

FBS scheduling criteria - to qualify for the CFP:
• 12 games in Sep-Nov; CCGs 1st Fri-Sat in Dec.
• P5 must schedule 9 in-conf, 1 other P5, 0 FCS.
• G5 must schedule 8 in-conf, 3 to 4 P5s, 0 FCS.

CFP expansion to 6 teams, with the criteria that G5s must schedule 3-4 P5s to qualify, will give G5s a viable means to achieve a top-6 ranking. Since P5s can & will schedule a couple of G5s, good G5s like Memphis, ULL or CCU aspiring to reach the top-6 can find 3-4 good P5s seeking a quality G5 opponent to strengthen their resumé. Teams without CFP expectations don't have to schedule out-of-conf P5s; instead they can aim for bowl eligibility.

Conf realignment to bolster rivalries & balance: 14 teams in each P5 conf & 12 in each G5 conf.
-- P5 conf cross-div: 1 fixed; 6 rotate in 2 slots.
-- G5 conf cross-div: 0 fixed; 6 rotate in 3 slots.
6 G5 (UCF, Cin, Houston, SMU, Boise, SDS) move to P5, likely enabling better hiring and recruiting.
2 small private schools Vandy & Wake go to G5. Conf TV revenue split equally among its teams; Big12 lost Neb, Col, ATM & Miz due to unequal.

Division 1A (FBS P5) = 70 teams:
(moves underlined; cross-div rivals paired)

ACC (14) - Atlantic
N: BC, Syr, Pitt, WVU, VT, VA, MD
S: Mia, DU, NC, NCS, CL, SC, UCF

B1G (14) - Northern
E: UM, MS, Ind, Cin, OSU, PSU, Rtg
W: ND, NW, Pur, Illn, Iowa, Wis, MN

B12 (14) - Central
N: OU, OSt, Neb, Miz, Kan, KSt, ISU
S: Tex, Bay, Col, Hou, SMU, TT, TCU

PAC (14) - Pacific
N: OR, BYU, UT, OS, WA, WS, Boise
S: SC, Ucla, AS, AZ, Stn, Cal, SDSt

SEC (14) - Southeastern
E : TN, GA, FLA, FSU, UK, Lou, GT
W: UA, AU, LSU, aTm, AR, OM, MS

Bama's out-of-conf & cross-div rotations:
9th SEC replaces FCS; 6 SEC-West games
in 2nd half of season; 7 homes & 5 aways.
'22: vs G5, vs P5, vs G5; at UK, vs FS, at TN
'23: vs G5, at P5, vs G5; vs UL, at Ga, vs TN
'24: vs G5, vs P5, vs G5; at GT, vs UF, at TN
'25: vs G5, at P5, vs G5; vs UK, at FS, vs TN
'26: vs G5, vs P5, vs G5; at UL, vs Ga, at TN
'27: vs G5, at P5, vs G5; vs GT, at UF, vs TN

Consistent schedule grids for all conferences (with 1 bye occurring only after game 6 or 7) would simplify in- and out-of-conf scheduling.

Division 1B (FBS G5) = 60 teams:
(moves underlined)

AAC (12) - Eastern
N: Tem, Mass, Con, Army, Navy, Lib
S: Mrsh, Chrlt, ECU, Appn, CCU, WF

CUSA (12) - Mid South
E: Mem, ArSt, ULL, ULM, LaTc, Tuln
W: Tuls, UNT, TxSt, Rice, UTSA, UTEP

MAC (12) - Northern
E: Buf, Kent, M-OH, OH, Akrn, BGS
W: Ball, Tol, WMU, EMU, CMU, NIU

MWC (12) - Western
S: Haw, NMS, NM, FrSt, SJS, UNLV
N: Nev, UTSt, AFA, CSU, Wyo, IDSt

Sun Belt (12) - Southeast
E: GaSt, GaSo, Troy, USF, FAU, FIU
W: WKy, USM, USA, UAB, Van, MTS

Pitt, WV, VT, VA, MD and NC schools, along with SC and UCF, are regional rivals that belong in the ACC. Miz, Neb, Col, Hou and SMU belong in the Big12. ND and Cincy belong in the B1G. Boise, BYU and SDS belong in the PAC. FSU, Louisville and GT are better fits in the SEC-E than Miz, SC and Vandy. It appears all realigned conferences, including regional G5, would gain net increases in TV ratings and attendance. Perhaps ESPN could also provide G5 conference TV networks.

There are good reasons smart people chose a Top-4 CFP model. The Top-6 CFP model above supports those same good reasons even better. It enables all 5 P5 conf champs and a G5 conf champ to earn a top-6 ranking. And it inherently encourages teams to enhance their resumés by scheduling good out-of-conf teams.

CFP expansion to 6 teams, benefits/incentives for higher seedings, scheduling criteria, and conference realigment will produce schedules with more competitive games that will improve clarity of the true top 6. The regular season will become a better "de facto playoff" filled with more appealing games that matter. TV ratings and attendance should improve significantly.