Not sure what the private school status has to do with anything. Notre Dame, Duke, Auburn, Boston College, Stanford, USC, TCU, BYU and Baylor are all private schools. Does that say anything about the Big 12, the ACC, the Pac-10, the SEC?
I think you mean Vandy and not Auburn.
My understanding is with a private school in the conference, the public schools athletic departments can keep more information private.
That is why as you are pointing out, they all have at least one private school.
A playoff is the only way to make sense of this. The current system has incredible flaws, and even a plus one isn’t adequate. Head to head is the only way. A sixteen team playoff where conference champions are automatic bids and the rest are at large would work. And while a MAC team (or ACC/Big Ten team) this year would likely not win a championship, they are still part of NCAA Division I and have no shot currently. Explain to me why every other sport, on every level understands this except for Division I football. Its money, pure and simple. Regarding the argument that the ratings would be down with smaller schools, I doubt that. No one tuned out when George Mason was playing Cinderella against UConn a few years ago; in fact, it added to the intrigue. I love college football (and all sports) and can’t wait to be able to enjoy it again without the mixed feelings Bowl season invokes.