IMO, there's no way you can tell me Sun Belt football is further behind the bottom of the SEC than Southland basketball is the ACC or Big 12. You definitely can't say it's "not close".

But, even if you did, it still doesn't matter. If you want a playoff, then have an actual playoff. The powers that be in FBS (which at this point are just two conference commissioners and maybe Notre Dame) can keep contriving whatever invitational tournament format they want, but it will never get to a sustainable playoff model until they expand and include every conference.

They'll keep having to blow it up and remodel it every few years like they have been for the last 30 years, or eventually end the charade and just break off and do their own thing. Just wait and see.