TV ratings dictate fan interest which people are claiming is reduced by expansion which isn't proven.
I disagree with the word drastically but of course the importance of those is altered. They're largely playing for seeding which is still relevant. It also makes a ton of games have way more importance. In a league of a 130+ teams why is your focus on 8 of them instead of the entire league?
An expanded playoffs will lead to better regular seasons opponents. You dont have to schedule Temple and Nevada over the fear of losing. I want better games not easy games to win 10+.
See the SEC moving to 9 conference games next year. That's a result of an expanded playoff.
The SEC moving to 9 games is almost certainly a result of ESPN agreeing to give them more money for doing so. That just hasn't been shared with the public... yet. The secondary reason is because the Big 10 made it clear they would not support the SEC's playoff expansion 5+11 proposal without a 9 game conference schedule. And why do they want that expansion? Because they know a subjective committee ranking 11 at large teams will give the SEC more spots than they get today, which means more money. Money, money, money.
Yes, expansion may lead to game with better regular season opponents. Games. where a loss will have little playoff repercussion. So while that's at least better for the fans that pay for tickets, it doesn't do anything to maintain one of the key fundamentals that made college football great, the importance of regular season games.
The reason I mention 8 teams is because the many of those in favor of expansion say the reason to expand is to ensure that all of the best teams are in the playoff. The counterpoint to that statement is that you can accomplish that goal with a 6-8 team playoff. But they don't want to hear that, not enough money.
My ideal playoff is 16 teams, one autobid for each conference champ and a few at large spots, max 2 teams from any one conference. But they won't allow that, because the P4 would get a max of 7 slots, not enough money for the millionaires making the decisions.
Sensing a theme here? Apply a 5 whys analysis here and the root cause inevitably always leads to money.