The whole deal with Houston is a great example of why we need a playoff. In a system where only two teams are in the playoff (i.e. just a NC game), it may be hard to argue that even though Houston went undefeated they are necessarily better than a one-loss team from one of the top conferences. But then if we're essentially saying there are some conferences whose undefeated winner will never have a shot at the title, which begs the question why even keep them in I-A if we're essentially relegating them to a lower group of that division. An 8/16 team playoff that gives such a conferences winner an automatic berth, or at least an at-large chance very very likely for someone in their situation, at least allows them to have skin in the game. I'm not saying they'd win for sure, heck they may lost every single year in the first round, but at least you allow them to have skin in the game. Otherwise, just be honest and tell them to go to I-AA since you're never really going to give them a shot at the BCS NC.
