Imagine: The also-ran ACC and pedestrian Big 12 being potentially in line for two bids.

And SEC schools like Missouri and Tennessee having a shot at the College Football Playoff. Or Michigan, without one win of significance, being a contender, and even punchless Iowa thinking it has a shot, and actually being right.

That’s what an expanded 16-team playoff would include. That’s what the powers that be apparently want, either next year or at some point soon. If anything, this season should be a loud statement that the sport doesn’t need expansion.

The playoff has made the regular season less important. The second half of the season features fewer big games, particularly with preseason title contenders LSU and Penn State having dreadful seasons and turning preseason showdowns into far less interesting matchups. By adding to the current 12-team system, college football would be hurting itself.