[Austroturf]

The only realistic solution to *almost* level the playing field is an eight-team playoff, with guaranteed playoff berths to five conference champions.

Sure, the SEC would still likely be overrepresented among the three at-large selections, but at least the Pac would have an opportunity each year to showcase (hopefully) the best conference team.

And mandate 9 conference games. Or 8. I don't care which, just mandate one.

Yes, that would go a long way to level the playing field.  Imagine if we hadn't been required to play Utah this year and could have replaced them with, say, Idaho.  Suddenly, we are 6-2 in the conference and 9-3 overall.  Better than #10 Florida.  We had to play the north and south champions and the north runner-up plus Notre Dame.

[Austroturf]

The only realistic solution to *almost* level the playing field is an eight-team playoff, with guaranteed playoff berths to five conference champions.

Sure, the SEC would still likely be overrepresented among the three at-large selections, but at least the Pac would have an opportunity each year to showcase (hopefully) the best conference team.

And mandate 9 conference games. Or 8. I don't care which, just mandate one.

Yes, that would go a long way to level the playing field.  Imagine if we hadn't been required to play Utah this year and could have replaced them with, say, Idaho.  Suddenly, we are 6-2 in the conference and 9-3 overall.  Better than #10 Florida.  We had to play the north and south champions and the north runner-up plus Notre Dame.