The college football season has concluded, and another round of debates on the college football playoff system will surely be talked about again this off-season. Once again, another non-power five team did not qualify for the playoffs despite another perfect season, and that is UCF.
UCF did not have a happy ending as they would like, instead losing to LSU in the Fiesta Bowl snapping their 25-game winning streak. Yes, there will be conversations this off-season about expanding the playoffs to eight teams, but this will not guarantee a non-power five team to get in. What will it take for non-power five schools to get into the playoff? Create a new league.
There are 130 teams total in the FBS, 64 of which are non-power five schools. A majority of them do not get to play in the big bowl games. If these non-power five schools are tired of being left out of the party, they could come together and form a new league.
This new league could be called FBS 2, a league that would be behind the FBS and ahead of FCS. There, they could form their own playoff and convert some of the lower bowl games like the Las Vegas Bowl into a playoff game that could generate interest in college football.
Starting a new league, especially in college football is going to be tough. The commissioners of these non-power five conferences will have to try and convince these schools in their conferences to join them in forming a new league which could be done.
There would-be long-term benefits for these schools if they wish to form a new league plus the sponsors of these lower bowl games would also benefit. If this were to happen, it could take place at the next conference realignment which would be in 2022 or 2023 at the latest, but it would be worth it.
