For the past three seasons or so I have posted my college football playoff proposal. It's not perfect but it's better than what we currently have and based on the events over the past year, we may eventually have something similar to Conan's plan
This proposal is designed to have a playoff and keep the bowls intact. Basically, there is a 16 team playoff with each of the 11 conference champions plus five at-large teams being seeded. Using a BCS type formula, the teams are ranked 1-16 and seeded just like the NCAA basketball tournament.
Some of you are incensed that Arkansas State, and Tulsa would be in the playoffs because there is not way in heck they are one of the best 16 teams in the country. Think of it this way though, they would be playing Notre Dame and Alabama thus giving those teams a reward for having a great regular season. Plus, every D-1 team is eligible for a national championship, no matter what conference they're in.
The higher seed plays at home since it's too hard for fans to travel around the country week after week if their team wins. Home games would sell out and generate a lot of money for both teams.
The first round would start on the first or second Saturday of December. The real, final, championship game would be held at a neutral location in large NFL-sized stadium (Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, Phoenix, LA) two weeks after the semi-finals. This season all CCGs would need to be played on December 1st. Rounds 1-3 of the playoffs would be played on December 8th, 15th, and 22nd. The Championship game would be played on January 7th.
One caveat. Under Conan's plan, only two teams per conference are allowed in the tournament. This is to make sure it doesn't turn into an SEC post season tourney. Also, it limits the possibility of rematches between conference members.


Here's what the bracket would look like if it were held this season:

1. Notre Dame
16. Arkansas State

8. Florida State
9. Clemson

5. Kansas State
12. Louisville

4. Oregon
13. Utah State

6. Stanford
11. Boise State

3. Florida
14. Wisconsin

7. Oklahoma
10. Northern Illinois

2. Alabama
15. Tulsa

What about the bowls you ask? Under the Conan plan, the bowls would be ranked based on payout amounts. They would then be allowed to choose from the remaining teams not included in the tournament. The Rose Bowl would be the first to choose, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl would be the last. The Rose Bowl, for example, could choose to keep the PAC 12/Big 10 tie-in or choose a different team from another conference if the Big 10 has another bad year and/or sanctions. Again, in under the Conan plan bowls can invite any available team once the bowls above them have invited their teams. There are no conference tie-ins. All bowl games would be played during the 16 days between the semi-final and the championship game (between December 23rd-January 6th)
Some bowls need to die or be allowed to take 5 win teams. I prefer they die.

2012-2013 Bowls and Payouts per team (in millions) :
1. Rose 17.0
2. Sugar 17.0
3. Fiesta 17.0
4. Orange 17.0
5. Capital One 4.5
6. Cotton 3.6
7. Outback 3.5
8. Gator 3.5
9. Chik-fil-A 3.4
10. Alamo 3.0
11. Buffalo Wild Wings 3.0
12. Champs Sports 2.2
13. Holiday 2.0
14. Sun Bowl 2.0
15. Music City 1.8
16. Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas 1.7
17. Belk 1.7
18. Liberty Bowl 1.4
19. Insight 1.20
20. Heart Of Dallas Bowl 1.1
21. Independence 1.1
22. Maaco Las Vegas 1.1
23. BBVA Compass 1.0
24. Military 1.0
26. Kraft Fight Hunger .838
27. Little Caesars .750
28. GoDaddy.com .750
29. Hawaii .650
30. Armed Forces .600
31. Beef 'O'Bradys .538
32. Poinsettia .500
33. New Orleans .500
34. New Mexico .456
35. Famous Idaho Potato .325