I do not like that a non-conference champion is included in the 4 teams. Granted, they may be one of the best teams in the country, but if you cannot win your division or conference, you should not be included.
So, rather than just complaining, come up with a logical solution. Here is mine.
8 Conferences, 12 teams each. That is 96 teams. If you are not in a conference, you are out of consideration. I will get to how to make up the conferences in a bit.
So, to get to the National Championship, you have to win your conference. Period. No exceptions, no excuses. Puts Conference play on the top in way of importance. Out of conference play can still be anywhere or anyone to get ready for conference play. 3 weeks will be all we need - 2 sided tournament of 4 teams each.
Week 1, 4 games. Week 2, 2 games, Week 3, Championship game.
Now, conference affiliation. Make it regional. No matter the size of the schools. Remember, 12 teams per conference. As an example - all are to be in College Bowl Series now:
Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Houston, Texas State, UTSA, TCU, Baylor, SMU, UTEP, North Texas, Rice.
North 6 would be Baylor, N. Texas, TCU, SMU, Tech, UTSA
South 6 would be UT, A&M, UH, Tx State, Rice, UTSA
conference championship to be played in Jerry’s World.
Another example in the SEC/AAC/Conf USA world
LSU, La Tech, UL-Lafayette, Ole Miss, Miss State, Southern Miss, Arkansas, Ark State, Tulsa, Okie State, OU.
Again, North/ South
North: Arkansas, Arkansas State, Tulsa, OU, Okie State, La Tech
South: LSU, UL- Lafayette, Tulane, Ole Miss, Miss State, S. Miss
Solves travel expenses, mixes big and small schools, puts local rivalries back in place
this can also be used for all other sports, not just football. Baseball, Basketball, Softball. Pretty much anything.