SMQ: What if college football had its own March Madness?

Bringing the spirit of March Madness to college football would only heighten interest. All parties would benefit from a larger playoff field.

But there is only so much that the NCAA can force. The power conferences that control the current structure of the postseason are understandably reluctant to cede any control. Implementing any expansion opportunity would require a cessation of full control and a level of uncertainty. It would also close the gap on disparities between FBS conferences.

Disparities, however, would inevitably continue to exist. Even with all the money in the world, UCF will never be quite as attractive a position as Nebraska. That all comes down to access, however. Had the Knights been given a legitimate shot to challenge for the national title, for instance, would Scott Frost be preparing for his first season coaching at his alma mater?

Ultimately, introducing even more money to the sport would offer little to the players themselves. What it would provide, though, is the level of championship opportunity that many student-athletes crave and few actually obtain in college football.

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Teams like Montana, Cal State-Fullerton, and Lipscomb will get their chance to pull off a major upset and steal the spotlight in March Madness. Meanwhile, the College Football Playoff remains a den of exclusivity. Only by expanding the playoff field beyond four and using the additional spaces to provide access to every conference will football get its shot at “One Shining Moment” moments.