College football is changing fast — and most of those changes aren't for the good.
Between conference realignment, NIL, the House settlement, player compensation, TV money, playoff expansion, and the slow erosion of regional rivalries, the sport is at a crossroads. In this episode of The Preferred Walk-On Show, Seth Saunders lays out a comprehensive vision for how to reshape college football while preserving what made it great in the first place.
This is not just another complaint about the current system. It is a full blueprint.
Seth breaks down a proposed model for a unified college football structure built around 14 regional conferences, traditional rivalries, a more inclusive 24-team College Football Playoff, campus-site postseason games, iconic bowl tie-ins, and a national championship stage worthy of the sport’s history.
The goal: restore regionality, protect rivalries, create more meaningful conference championships, give more schools access to the postseason, and increase revenue across the entire sport — not just for the biggest brands.
In This Episode
The current state of college football governance and why the sport feels fragmented
How NIL, the House settlement, player compensation, and conference expansion are reshaping the sport
Why regionality still matters in college football
How traditional rivalries have been damaged by modern realignment
A proposed structure of 14 regional conferences
How a 24-team College Football Playoff could work
How at-large bids could create access without watering down the postseason
A new postseason calendar featuring campus games and major bowl sites
Why the Rose Bowl should be considered as a permanent or recurring national championship venue
How TV rights could be packaged under a unified college football model
The potential role of federal legislation, antitrust protection, and collective governance
How this plan could generate more revenue for Power 4 schools, Group of 5 schools, and smaller programs alike
Chapter Markers
00:00 Introduction to College Football’s Current Landscape
02:53 The Impact of Compensation and Expansion on College Football
05:56 Proposed Changes to Restore Regionality in College Football
08:36 Reimagining Conference Structures for Better Rivalries
11:17 The New Playoff System: A Path to Inclusivity
14:02 The Vision for a National Championship at the Rose Bowl
23:10 Revising the College Football Calendar
28:16 The Vision for a Unified College Football Association
34:46 Navigating Legal Hurdles in College Sports
40:35 The Future of College Football: A Comprehensive Plan
Why This Matters
College football has never been more valuable — but it has also never felt more unstable.
The sport is chasing revenue, but in the process, it risks losing regional identity, rivalry traditions, postseason meaning, and the connection between schools, fans, and place. This episode asks a simple but important question:
Can college football grow without losing its soul?
Seth’s answer: yes — but only with a smarter structure.
Listen If You Care About
College Football Playoff expansion
Conference realignment
The future of the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, and Group of 5
NIL and the House settlement
College football TV rights
Regional rivalries
Bowl games and the postseason calendar
The future of the Rose Bowl
A unified college football league or association
How to preserve tradition while increasing revenue
The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape.
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