[BigBobber]

You could have a very viable D1 playoff with 8 teams. These are the eight teams that play in the four major BCS bowls (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta), all these games would be played within a few days of Jan 1. The major bowls and conferences would still get their money this way.

The four remaining teams would play the following week (note this is the same time that the current BCS "championship" is played. The final two teams would then play in a much hyped game in late January during the dead weekend before the Superbowl. A playoff like this would generate huge fan interest, comparable to March Madness.

I think a 32 team bracket would be even better, starting in early December. This way teams would earn their way to the final. The problem is Team 1 playing Team 32 in round 1 is likely to be a blowout. I don't think it is a good idea to have athletes off for five weeks as in the current system.

[SoothingDave]

You could have a very viable D1 playoff with 8 teams. These are the eight teams that play in the four major BCS bowls (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta), all these games would be played within a few days of Jan 1. The major bowls and conferences would still get their money this way. The four remaining teams would play the following week (note this is the same time that the current BCS "championship" is played. The final two teams would then play in a much hyped game in late January during the dead weekend before the Superbowl. A playoff like this would generate huge fan interest, comparable to March Madness.

Baby steps.

We have in place this year, for the first time, a brand new "Championship Game" one week after the New Year's games.

The next step is to line up the top 4 teams in two of the BCS bowls and then have them play in the title game the next week. Sounds like this may not be possible until the current Rose Bowl contract runs out in 2012. So enjoy what we have and prepare for the next step.

I think 8 teams gets two complicated and takes away from the bowl system. Are there more than 4 legitimate contenders in most years? I think not.