[CardinalSagehen]

Keep in mind that we struggled to get a third opponent (Davis) this year.

BC

which can be "solved" if you offer enough money to get the other team to come and play you (which the SEC seems to have no problem doing)

Yes, it just takes $$$ and planning.  I wonder if Florida would be in the Peach Bowl if they had played Georgia (SEC east champ), Alabama (SEC west champ), Kentucky (co-runner up in the East) and Notre Dame.  Plus they lost to Missouri (SEC 4-4 in the east).  At 7-5, I doubt they would even be in the top 25, let alone in a NY6 bowl at #10 in the nation.

I agree that the system is unfair as currently construed, but I think we may be a little naive to the financial realities of the situation.

First, SEC teams have the luxury of not worrying about buying an easy FCS win for $1M, because they know they'll fill their stadium and earn decent ratings no matter who they play. They also know that CFP and NY6 trips are worth even more to them, given their large and highly engaged fan bases, than they would be to Stanford and most Pac 12 schools. With Stanford's small and apathetic fan base, it's harder to justify a big payout.  (Sure, we here on the CARDboard care, by definition, but let's be honest that there's just not very many of us.)

Second, I assume that CFB probably would consider it bad business to force any scheduling changes that disfavor the SEC and favor the Pac 12. They want we Pac 12 fans to keep consuming the product - glad-handing us at the CFP, NY6 and Voldemort "parties" - all the while knowing that we're collectively less valuable to them.  

So, we can carp about it all we want, but I think the money-based arguments actually work against us and suggest that there won't be change. My favorite idea (as someone mentioned above) is an 8-team playoff with all the Power 5 champs, the best G5 champ and 2 at-larges for independents and conference runner-ups. I hope that happens but I'm not holding my breath. Perhaps this year's Big Ten snub will rattle people more than previous Pac 12 and Big 12 snubs have done.

[CardinalSagehen]

Keep in mind that we struggled to get a third opponent (Davis) this year.

BC

which can be "solved" if you offer enough money to get the other team to come and play you (which the SEC seems to have no problem doing)

Yes, it just takes $$$ and planning.  I wonder if Florida would be in the Peach Bowl if they had played Georgia (SEC east champ), Alabama (SEC west champ), Kentucky (co-runner up in the East) and Notre Dame.  Plus they lost to Missouri (SEC 4-4 in the east).  At 7-5, I doubt they would even be in the top 25, let alone in a NY6 bowl at #10 in the nation.

I agree that the system is unfair as currently construed, but I think we may be a little naive to the financial realities of the situation.

First, SEC teams have the luxury of not worrying about buying an easy FCS win for $1M, because they know they'll fill their stadium and earn decent ratings no matter who they play. They also know that CFP and NY6 trips are worth even more to them, given their large and highly engaged fan bases, than they would be to Stanford and most Pac 12 schools. With Stanford's small and apathetic fan base, it's harder to justify a big payout.  (Sure, we here on the CARDboard care, by definition, but let's be honest that there's just not very many of us.)

Second, I assume that CFB probably would consider it bad business to force any scheduling changes that disfavor the SEC and favor the Pac 12. They want we Pac 12 fans to keep consuming the product - glad-handing us at the CFP, NY6 and Voldemort "parties" - all the while knowing that we're collectively less valuable to them.  

So, we can carp about it all we want, but I think the money-based arguments actually work against us and suggest that there won't be change. My favorite idea (as someone mentioned above) is an 8-team playoff with all the Power 5 champs, the best G5 champ and 2 at-larges for independents and conference runner-ups. I hope that happens but I'm not holding my breath. Perhaps this year's Big Ten snub will rattle people more than previous Pac 12 and Big 12 snubs have done.