College football is in a better place now than it was a year ago — or five years ago, or ten.

The 2024 season has been one of the most exciting we’ve had in a long time. There is no clear-cut title team. The transfer portal and NIL have done an excellent job of spreading talent across the country to create real parity.

The first 12-team playoff hasn’t taken place yet and the change is already a resounding success.

There’s just one thing holding back this era: the super conference.

It’s the final weekend of the regular season and we don’t know who will play in multiple Power 4 conference championship games. It’s not as much about the fact that we have all these complicated tiebreaker scenarios, it’s the reason we have them that’s the problem.

These conferences are just too darn big.

While it’s silly the Big Ten has 18 teams and the Big 12 has 16 teams, it’s the unbalanced schedules that created the problem — debating where a one-loss Indiana team belongs in the playoff over a horde of 3-loss SEC teams.

It’s understandable. Not all schedules are created equal in the era of giant conferences, but it’s not just a Big Ten problem. Look at the SEC, where Georgia had to travel to Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas, and also had to host Tennessee. Whereas Texas’ best win to this point of the season is… Vanderbilt?

It’s a shame that’s the playoff conversation in the final week of the regular season. The new era was supposed to mostly erase the debates about the last few teams in. That never truly goes away no matter how many teams you let in — just ask the 68-team NCAA tournaments for men’s and women’s basketball.

The 12-team playoff was sold on the idea that on-field results mattered more than ever. And to some extent, they do. We’ve had multiple regular-season games that have felt like elimination games. And once teams realize the value of winning conference title games to earn a playoff bye, the regular season will become even more important.

But it feels like the scheduling issues will still be prevalent in the coming years.

Who knows? We could be headed toward a breakaway, 72-team super league that features divisions that resemble the regional conferences everyone grew up with.

Maybe that’s the ideal format. There’s no going back to the old days — and for good reason. Revenue sharing is coming in 2025 and that could lead to even more parity as the top players around the country won’t be willing to sit and wait two or three years to play when they can make the same amount of money and play immediately at a different school.

It’s not perfect, but a lot of good has come out of this new era. There are still close to two dozen teams with legitimate hopes of making the playoff heading into the final weekend. That is objectively good for the sport.

We just need to make one small fix: get rid of these huge conferences.

5 Games to Watch

No. 12 Clemson vs. No. 15 South Carolina (10 a.m., ESPN)

One of the more underrated in-state rivalries has a ton on the line. It’s the first time both teams are ranked heading into the game in over a decade and both need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Clemson has rebounded nicely after being blown out by Georgia in the season opener, but South Carolina has emerged as a real threat in the SEC.

King’s pick: Clemson -3

USC vs. No. 5 Notre Dame (1:30 p.m., CBS)

This feels like a potential trap game for the Fighting Irish, even if it’s a rivalry game the team is desperate to win — and one that would clinch a spot in the playoff. USC has won three of its last four after a brutal three-game losing streak. The Trojans would love to play spoiler.

King’s pick: Notre Dame -7.5

Arizona vs. No. 16 Arizona State (1:30 p.m., FOX)

This season has not gone as expected for either team in this game. Arizona State, picked to finish last in the Big 12, needs a win to get into the conference title game. Arizona, with all of its returning talent, is out of contention to make a bowl game after being picked to finish near the top of the conference. The Wildcats can still spoil the Sun Devils’ special season, though.

King’s pick: Arizona State -8.5

No. 20 Texas A&M vs. No. 3 Texas (5:30 p.m., ABC)

One perk of conference realignment is the return of one of the country’s great rivalries. It’s the first time since 2011 these heated rivals from the Lone Star State have faced off — and there’s a spot in the SEC title game on the line.

King’s pick: Texas A&M +5.5

No. 18 Iowa State vs. No. 23 Kansas State (5:30 p.m., FOX)

Beating K-State will likely get Iowa State into the Big 12 title game, but it’s a rivalry game. (Farmageddon is an elite rivalry nickname.) The Wildcats are capable of beating anyone in the conference, despite their recent struggles.

King’s pick: Iowa State -2.5

King’s YTD record ATS: 23-36 (2-3 last week)

Top 5 Heisman Candidates

1. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

Hunter likely needed only one quarter to officially lock up the award Friday. He entered the final week as the betting favorite and had an interception on the third play of the game. He also caught a touchdown pass a few minutes later for good measure.

2. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Most seasons, Jeanty probably wins the award. What he’s done this season has only been matched by some of the all-time great running backs. He carried the ball a whopping 21 times for over 100 yards in a touchdown in the first half of Boise State’s win over Oregon State as he, too, didn’t need a full game to show why he’s so special.

3. Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon

Everyone not named Hunter or Jeanty is battling to finish third and earn a free trip to New York. It feels like Gabriel is a lock to get there as Oregon is nearly a three-touchdown favorite vs. rival Washington, and the Ducks look likely to be the only team to go 12-0. Gabriel is also third in the country in completion percentage and has thrown for over 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns already this season.

4. Cam Ward, QB, Miami

At some point, it becomes hard to ignore the statistics. It hasn’t looked pretty at times, but Ward is likely going to end this season with over 4,000 passing yards and close to 40 touchdowns, depending how long the Hurricanes’ season goes. He deserves to be in New York, and he’s likely secured a spot in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, too.

5. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

It’s the year of the non-quarterback in college football. Outside of Ward, there really isn’t a playoff contender that is so relied upon by their team for offensive success. Just look at No. 4 Penn State, which has a solid QB in Drew Allar, but the Nittany Lions would be nowhere without do-it-all tight end Tyler Warren, who has over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns (5 receiving, 4 rushing, one passing).