What's the argument to keep conferences at this point?
Seriously, it should be promotion/relegation, like in footy leagues around the world.
On the theory that a league should have 14 teams, so each team has a 13-game season. Bottom three schools from each get sent down, top three schools from each go up. These would be interesting divisions and the promotion-relegation games at the end of the season would be incredible.
So using 2021 power rankings from ESPN, we'd have:
Transcendent League (first tier 1-14)
Georgia (national champions)
Alabama
Ohio State
Michigan
Oklahoma
ND
OK ST
Clemson
Iowa St.
Cinci
Utah
Pitt relegated to Stupendous
Wisconsin relegated to Stupendous
TAMU relegated to Stupendous
Baylor promoted from Stupendous
NC ST promoted from Stupendous
Penn St promoted from Stupendous
Stupendous League (second tier 15-28)
Pitt relegated from Transcendent
Wisconsin relegated from Transcendent
TAMU relegated from Transcendent
Ole Miss
Mich ST
Auburn
Arkansas
Wake
Miami
Texas
Purdue
Tennessee relegated to Formidable 8
Minnesota relegated to Formidable 8
Kentucky relegated to Formidable 8
Nebraska promoted from Formidable 8
Oregon promoted from Formidable 8
UCLA promoted from Formidable 8
Formidable 8 (third tier 29-42)
Tennessee relegated from Stupendous
Minnesota relegated from Stupendous
Kentucky relegated from Stupendous
Iowa
Appalachian St.
Florida
Kansas St.
Mississippi St.
Houston
Boise ST.
Arizona St.
BYU relegated to Confabulation of the Adequate
Western KY relegated to Confabulation of the Adequate
LSU relegated to Confabulation of the Adequate
North Carolina promoted from Confabulation of the Adequate
SMU promoted from Confabulation of the Adequate
Coastal Carolina promoted from Confabulation of the Adequate
Confabulation of the Adequate (fourth tier 43-56)
BYU relegated from Formidable 8
Western KY relegated from Formidable 8
LSU relegated from Formidable 8
Louisville
Virginia
Louisiana (Cajuns)
West Virginia
Texas Tech
FLorida St
Oregon ST
Fresno St
Wash St relegated to AmbitoUSA
UCF relegated to AmbitioUSA
Liberty relegated to AmbitioUSA
Texas-San Antonio promoted from AmbitioUSA
USC promoted from AmbitioUSA
Nevada promoted from AmbitioUSA
AmbitioUSA (Fifth tier 57-70)
Wash St relegated from Confabulation of the Adequate
UCF relegated from Confabulation of the Adequate
Liberty relegated from Confabulation of the Adequate
UAB
Army
Washington
Maryland
Va Tech
Toledo
Air Force
Illinois
TCU relegated to Circle of Ennui
South Carolina relegated to Circle of Ennui
Marshall relegated to Circle of Ennui
Boston College promoted from Circle of Ennui
San Diego St promoted from Circle of Ennui
Cal promoted from Circle of Ennui
Circle of Ennui (sixth tier 71-84)
TCU relegated from AmbitioUSA
South Carolina relegated from AmbitioUSA
Marshall relegated from AmbitioUSA
Utah St
Western Mich
Tulsa
Syracuse
Missouri
Cent Mich
Memphis
East Carolina
GA Tech relegated to Conference SUCK
GA State relegated to Conference SUCK
Indiana relegated to Conference SUCK
Miami (OH) promoted from Conference SUCK
Rutgers promoted from Conference SUCK
Mid Tenn St promoted from Conference SUCK
etc etc etc
Darwin's Waiting Room (124-130 and FCS 1-6)
New Mexico
Temple
FIU
New Mex St
Akron
UConn
UMass
North Dakota St (FCS #1)
Montana St
James Madison
Sam HOuston St
South Dakota St
Missouri St
East Tenn ST
etc