If you look at the Mountain West's non-conference schedules, you will see they schedule BCS schools, they are trying to play the best teams they can. Their non conf. schedules are not cake walks by any means, unlike some schools in the SEC (Florida, Auburn) And no it's not Oklahoma's fault they get picked over New Mexico, but if each conference had an oportunity to play for a National Champinship, then the New Mexico's of the world might just be able to keep that kid at home and become a better program. Once again without a true playoff only the BCS schools will always be the have's, and the non BCS will be the have not's. Lets settle it on the field and give everybody a shot, hell it will be alot more fun!!
This is a bit off-topic, but I think the conferences are getting too big. I don't think any conference should have more than eight teams. You have built-in inequity when all of the members of a conference don't play each other. Also, some of the conferences are becoming geographically dispersed in a way that's ridiculous.
I agree with the idea of a playoff after the bowls are over. They could take the top 8 or 12 teams and playoff. Probably top 8. I disagree with all the whinning about missing school etc. All the other divisions playoff. And, the basketball teams that just spent over a week in Hawaii to play that Thanksgiving tournement, how much school did they miss? The bowls are big money for the schools and conferences. They will never do anything to harm those bowl games. The bowls mean a lot to the communities that sponsor them also. But, I simply do not buy your reasoning about leaving NM or somewhere else for school. Like it or not, we all have choices. You can choose to work where you want to. You will chose the best place for you based on $$$ and benefits, retirement, etc. Most kids that play college sports are good enough in most respects to play on Sundays and that is what they want to do. Small colleges send good players to the NFL also. But, to play for a top notch program is what most kids want. And playing time is what they want. They do not want to sit on the bench for one or two years waiting. They think it hurts their NFL chances. And, it probably does from the experience stand point. But, NM has to deal with keeping it's kids home its self, just like every other state and school has to do. I will be very interested to see how many real good Mississippi kids leave for Alabama, LSU, Florida, Tennessee etc., and instead stay and play for Sly Croom @ Mississippi State. MS always has very good players, but they also go to the larger schools. NM will have to build a program and play schedules that bring those teams there to play. But, I doubt they have the player pool to mount a year in and year out program unless they also bring in kids from other states.