re: strength of schedule complaints

The NCAA could fix this problem:

1. They could eliminate the Division 1-A (FBS)/Division 1-AA (FCS) matchups. Sure the 1-AA team wins occasionally, but typically it's a terrible game from the fans' perspectives.

2. They could move all teams who can't average 25,000 fans per home game down to D1-AA. Yes, I know this would eliminate the most of the MAC and WAC and more than likely all of the Sun Belt, and half of CUSA and Mountain West (then combine the remnants of the MAC and CUSA as well as the WAC and Mountain West into two conferences), but it would provide much better matchups on a weekly basis. The Verge Ausberrys of the world couldn't go out and schedule the Central Rhode Island State Polytechnic Institutes for that 12th game.

3. They could produce a eight-team playoff. Only the conference champions would be eligible for the playoffs (forcing the Independants like Notre Dame to join a conference). Scheduling cupcakes for automatic wins would not be necessary since all you have to do is win your conference.

Unfortunately, these things will never happen because NCAA football is no longer for the fans. It's now simply about the colleges and universities making money.