Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Again, I'm not opposed to true separation. We have a de facto separation now. I'd rather make it explicit than continue paying lip service to the idea that the the G5 actually has a chance. If UCF can go on a 25-game winning streak across two years and still not be close to getting into the CFP, then we might as well all agree that equality is a lie.

I truly believe 4 is the worst case scenario.  I like 5-1-2 the best, but I would even prefer 10-2 over the current setup.  2, 6, 8, 12.  All IMO are better than 4.

I've said this before, but I could care less about having an undisputed national champion, but if it has to happen, I'd rather go just have the traditional bowl match-ups and then have the top 2 ranked teams play each other after that. For instance, this year the 6 top bowls would look more like this:

Rose - Ohio State v Washington
Sugar - Alabama v Oklahoma
Orange - Clemson v Georgia
Fiesta - LSU v UCF
Cotton - Notre Dame v Texas
Peach - Michigan v Florida

I assuming the favorites (listed first in each match-up), then Alabama still plays Clemson in the national championship game, though I suspect at least one would lose their bowl game, in which case Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Ohio State would all potentially have a shot if they won their bowl game.

I actually do believe the Group of 5 can get in the playoff but schedule has to be right.  Houston would have done it a few years ago wheb they beat Louiville and Oklahoma if they didnt blow it on 2 bads teams in the middle of their schedule.

Regardless, there is no official separation because the Group of 5 conferences dont want it and the power 5 conferences get enough they are willing to let there to officially be no difference even though everyone knows there is.

They pointed out during the MAC Championship game that NIU scheduled like a team that wanted to go to the playoff.  I think it was Iowa, BYU, Florida State and Boston College.  That's what UCF has to do.  Four P5 teams.

A non-power conference school would have to be really fortunate to make the playoff. Look at the 2004 and 2008 Utah teams, which were arguably the two best non-power conference teams that I can recall, and neither of those teams finished in the top 4, even after the bowl games. The MWC was pretty good in those years, and those teams also had some power conference non-con games, including Michigan in 2008 (obviously that was Michigan's worst year in a long time but that's besides the point).

The fact that UCF has a 25 game winning streak and still can't get above 6th (and that was only after last year's bowl win), is telling. Part of that is bad luck that cancelled their games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina the past 2 years, though, not that either of those teams were good.

2010 TCU (before they joined the Big 12) did make the top 4 before the bowl games, but that was after going 11-2 and 12-1 the previous two years, and (not that this should matter) they had more historical credibility being a long-time SWC program with some great teams....

Again, I'm not opposed to true separation. We have a de facto separation now. I'd rather make it explicit than continue paying lip service to the idea that the the G5 actually has a chance. If UCF can go on a 25-game winning streak across two years and still not be close to getting into the CFP, then we might as well all agree that equality is a lie.

I feel like you're the only one thinking anyone suggested there was equality.  This was predictable, I said so over a month ago.  UCF can win 25 games AND not warrant a playoff spot.  Why do you think they have the monikers Power5 and Group of 5?  Because they're unequal !!!