Big East wasn’t a real power conference. It is like saying the AAC now is a power conference. It was slightly better than the weaker conferences.
Having and deserving are two different things. If the WAC and Mountain West had any brains, they would have merged and been a stronger conference than the Big East. Big East always had one strong team and a ton of average to mediocre teams. MWC and WAC would have been a deeper league.
Based on the edit, I don't think playing in the CFP anytime soon is their goal. They want to attract the best non-P5 players who want to play against those teams. Over a 4 year career for that type of players, it's exciting to play against those teams in their stadiums ... just ask the kids. The son of some of our best friends played at Tenn Tech. They played at Oregon, Wisconsin, and a couple other big time P5 teams while he was there. Got stomped. Was still the highlights of his career. Then they can compete in their conference with better players, which is their goal. Maybe get to a NYD bowl. UCF is the only delusional team, at least for now, that actually thinks they belong in the CFP.
Gives kids a chance to say, I know I can’t play in a better conference, but at least I can get a chance to compete against the best possible competition given smaller team’s circumstances.
Where they almost all sit in the middle to bottom of their respective conferences.
As it should be, undefeated Power 5 should be in first. If they go unbeaten while playing either 1 great team or 2 solid teams, why shouldn’t they get a shot? If you beat Bama or Clemson and roll through your schedule, absolutely they should get a playoff bid.
You want a cookie for playing a conference opponent?
