the SEC arguement is that the SEC top x teams will be anyone from any other conference on any day...
i will say that in talking with my brothers father in law this weekend, he wanted OK State v LSU, and also favors with the 'lower' tier does with 8 team playoffs, but even with 8 teams battling, someone is going to feel snubbed...
i think you have the BCS bowls, you take the winners from there and do a playoff out of the winners ending in a National Championship game...you guys quit playing around Turkey Day anyway, adjust the schedule to be over December 1st, have Bowl Games start, to where you have the 'winners bowls' starting New Years day, and the next week National Championship game...