re: The BCS has been undeniably kind to LSU

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Just FYI I did an argumentative paper on playoff vs. BCS for an english class, got a 100 and actually convinced my professor that a playoff done correctly is better, but you don't want to hear my system because it'd probably just piss you off and start shite.

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I would retroactively flunk your arse for writing something as stupid as this, but I digress. Can a playoff be designed that would minimize the impact on the regular season? Yes. A small playoff that does not include autoqualifiers will do just that. However, as soon as you get to 8 teams BCS conferences will insist on AQs for financial reasons. AQs is what has the biggest detrimental impact on the regular season.

The problem with AQs is that the basis for the AQ will be conference championship, and not the overall record. Theoretically, teams with 4 or 5 losses could, and over time will, make the playoffs (conference CGs only exacerbate the problem). In the BCS this cannot happen at all.

In the BCS, because of the SOS component in the models, every game played can have an impact on who goes. This doesn't mean that every game is decisive, only that it could be (e.g. flip the outcome of the Boise/Hawaii game in 2003 and USC goes to the CG instead of us). This makes people who normally wouldn't give a rat's arse about a game to take note. It enhances the regular season. In addition, it's very difficult to get a handle on what matters and doesn't until the very end.

AQs, or the first step to be an AQ (i.e. win your division), can be determined much earlier. At that point subsequent regular season games can become like exhibition games. One of college football great rivalries is the Ohio State - Michigan game (IRL this one may not matter anymore due to the Big 10 realignment, IDK, but the concept is valid regardless). Imagine a situation where one team has the division in the bag when the game is played. While it's unfortunate that the underdog will no longer be able to screw their rival big time, I don't think that will subdue passions. However, for the rest who think this game is just two jackasses fighting over a turnip, it will. And that really diminishes the game imo.

I could go on about the lesser meaning of OOC games, but that's just piling on. The bottom line is that any playoff with AQs will have a major negative impact on the regular season. It's also maive to think that an 8 team or more playoff would be implemented without AQs.