Part of it is marketing - controversy generates free publicity.
A good 8 team playoff would take the top two teams from the SEC, top 2 from the Big 12, top teams from the Pac 10, Big 10 and ACC, and one at large.
Round 1
Rose Bowl (Pac 10/Big 10)
Sugar (SEC 1 v. At Large)
Orange (ACC v. Big 12 2)
Fiesta (Big 12 1 v SEC 2)
Round 2
Rose v. Fiesta winner
Orange v. Sugar winner
Round 3 National Championship
Baby steps. You’re going to have a 4-team playoff before you get an 8 team one.
They’ve already de-coupled the National Championship game from the 4 big bowls. They have been moving the Big Game days away from Jan. 1. All they need to do now is make it a full week or so after (Monday night) and have the Jan 1 bowls rotate as a play-off.