10 Team Playoff
This one has a few options and this one can lead to some creativity and home games as well.
Take all five Power Five conference champions, top two Group of Five champions and three at-large.
First round:
No. 10 Boise State at No. 7 Baylor
No. 9 Memphis at No. 8 Wisconsin
Second Round:
No. 9/8 Winner at No. 1 LSU
No. 5 Georgia at No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 10/7 winner at No. 2 Ohio State
No. 6 Oklahoma at No. 3 Clemson
Take all 10 conference champions and make winning a league title a priority. The overall depth may not be the best overall but it prioritizes winning a league title. Just like prior formats, this would not allow independents in this field, but they should just join a league.
This would be a proper playoff as it is not an invitational with computers or a group of people picking the best team. This path requires every team to qualify by winning its league. This one will never happen but it would at least be earned.
First round:
No. 10 Miami (OH) at No. 7 Boise State
No. 9 Florida Atlantic at No. 8 Appalachian State
Second Round:
No. 9/8 Winner at No. 1 LSU
No. 5 Oregon at No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 10/7 winner at No. 2 Ohio State
No. 6 Memphis at No. 3 Clemson
12 Team Playoff
Every Power Five champion, any Group of Five champion that is ranked at the end of the year in the top 25, and then fill out the rest with at-large bids.
This year there would have three Group of Five teams in Boise State, Memphis and Appalachian State and then four at-large teams. The at-large would vary each year but include teams from outside the power structure a shot if ranked and winning their league.
There would be home games for the first two rounds and being a top-four team earns a bye.
First round:
No. 9 Florida at No. 8 Wisconsin
No. 12 Appalachian State at No. 5 Georgia
No. 10 Memphis at No. 7 Baylor
No. 11 Boise State at No. 6 Oregon
Second round:
No. 9/8 Winner at No. 1 LSU
No. 12/5 Winner vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 11/6 Winner vs. No. 3 Clemson
No. 10/7 Winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Another 12-team option is all league champions with two at-large teams. This would allow for a few other teams that are really good to have a shot at a national title plus an option for independents.
First round:
No. 9 Boise State at No. 8 Memphis
No. 12 Miami (OH) at No. 5 Georgia
No. 10 Appalachian State at No. 7 Baylor
No. 11 Florida Atlantic at No. 6 Oregon
Second Round:
No. 9/8 Winner at No. 1 LSU
No. 12/5 Winner vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 11/6 Winner vs. No. 3 Clemson
No. 10/7 Winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
16 Team Playoff
This one is my personal favorite. Go with all 10 conference champions and six at-large bids. With 16 teams it would give every conference champion to earn a spot in the field plus six other teams who most likely would be ranked probably at worst No. 12.
No. 16 Miami (OH) at No. 1 LSU
No. 9 Florida at No. 8 Wisconsin
No. 12 Memphis at No. 5 Georgia
No. 13 Boise State at No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 11 Utah at No. 6 Oregon
No. 14 Appalachian State at No. 3 Clemson
No. 10 Penn State at No. 7 Baylor
No. 15 Florida Atlantic at No. 2 Ohio State
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