re: So are we likely to finally get a college football playoff with only conference winners?

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I don't want garbage 7-5 teams in either, but if they earn it by winning the conference, so be it. That's how every other level of football--and every other sport for that matter--works, but yet it's not good enough for the FBS?

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As I said that 7-5 team was only in their conference title game because Ohio State AND Penn State were both on postseason bans. You know what doesn't happen in most sports leagues? Post season bans. That's the danger you run into if you both keep conference championship games and you allow automatic bids.

Since 2000 the following teams of won championships without winning their division

MLB: 2019 Nationals, 2014 Giants, 2011 Cardinals, 2004 Red Sox, 2003 Marlins, and the 2002 Angels

NFL: 2010 Packers, 2007 Giants, and the 2005 Steelers

NBA: 2011 Mavericks, 2007 Spurs, 2004 Pistons, and the 2002 Lakers

NHL: 2019 Blues, 2017 Penguins, 2016 Penguins, 2015 Blackhawks, 2014 Kings, 2012 Kings, 2009 Penguins, and the 2000 Devils

Yes those teams are "conference champions", but that's because those championships are decided IN the playoffs, not before. The size of college athletics does not allow that. Conference title games are not a great way to decide a champion outside of the Big 12 since all of their teams play each other. The old Big 12 is a great example. In 2008 Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech all went 11-1 (7-1), yet Oklahoma played 9-3 (5-3) Missouri in the title game because of the way divisions are structured. Teams should not be punished for playing in stronger divisions and teams rewarded for playing in weaker divisions.

Hell look at the NCAA Tournament. How many teams win that that don't win their conference? 2019 Virginia lost in the ACC semifinals. So did 2017 UNC.

You bring up other levels of NCAA football. You know what those levels don't have? Conference Championship games. Their auto bid goes to the team with the best record and then there are at large selections. Current in the FCS there are 10 auto bids and 14 at large selections.

If you want all conference champions in cool, but there has to be at large spots too. I know a lot of people want to go to like a 16 team playoff. I'm cool with that, but you have to get rid of conference title games and/or trim the regular season. College kids should not be playing 16-17 games. I remember years ago (Like 2005 or so) a reporter asked an Alabama player about that. His response was something like "16 games is a full time job, that's what the NFL is for, not college."

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Otherwise, conferences mean nothing.

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I mean they really don't. Notre Dame has both played the the BCSNCG and made a playoff without being in one. Conferences are really just used for organization and contract negotiations. It's much easier for NBC, CBS, ESPN, etc. to negotiate with 10 conferences + ND, BYU, and a couple of other small independents and to have to negotiate with 130 individual schools.