<p>College football is changing fast — and most of those changes aren't for the good.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />This is not just another complaint about the current system. It is a full blueprint.<br /><br />Seth breaks down a proposed model for a unified college football structure built around 14 regional conferences, traditional rivalries, a more inclusive 24-team playoff, campus-site postseason games, iconic bowl tie-ins, and a national championship stage worthy of the sport’s history.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />In This Episode<br /><br />The current state of college football governance and why the sport feels fragmented<br /><br />Why regionality still matters in college football<br /><br />How traditional rivalries have been damaged by modern realignment<br /><br />A proposed structure of 14 regional conferences<br /><br />How a 24-team College Football Playoff could work<br /><br />How at-large bids could create access without watering down the postseason<br /><br />A new postseason calendar featuring campus games and major bowl sites<br /><br />Why the Rose Bowl should be considered as a permanent or recurring national championship venue<br /><br />How TV rights could be packaged under a unified college football model<br /><br />The potential role of federal legislation, antitrust protection, and collective governance<br /><br />How this plan could generate more revenue for Power 4 schools, Group of 5 schools, and smaller programs alike<br /><br />Chapter Markers<br /><br />00:00 Introduction to College Football’s Current Landscape<br />02:53 The Impact of Compensation and Expansion on College Football<br />05:56 Proposed Changes to Restore Regionality in College Football<br />08:36 Reimagining Conference Structures for Better Rivalries<br />11:17 The New Playoff System: A Path to Inclusivity<br />14:02 The Vision for a National Championship at the Rose Bowl<br />23:10 Revising the College Football Calendar<br />28:16 The Vision for a Unified College Football Association<br />34:46 Navigating Legal Hurdles in College Sports<br />40:35 The Future of College Football: A Comprehensive Plan<br /><br />College football has never been more valuable — but it has also never felt more unstable.<br /></p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>Apple Podcasts &amp; Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show"<br /> Instagram — <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/preferredwalk_on/" target="_blank"><b>@preferredwalk_on</b></a><br /> TikTok — <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@preferredwalkon" target="_blank"><b>@preferredwalkon</b></a><br /> Facebook — <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn" target="_blank"><b>facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn</b></a><br /> X / Twitter — <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/PreferredWO" target="_blank"><b>@PreferredWO</b></a></p>