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the PODS are too small!

Floyd of Rosedale, the bucket, the Axe, the brown jug

Iowa–Minnesota-Indiana–Purdue-Wisconsin

how about 5 or 6 team pods?

or we could just have 8-team divisions and play those 7 teams EVERY season

Well there's a concept that seems to be gaining steam amongst the "pod crowd" and that concept is a "three perma-rivals" idea.

For example, in the "New SEC" you could put Texas in a pod with Arkansas, A&M, and OU, and it would be perfect for us.  It would preserve all three of our traditional rivalries, all of our so-called "trophy games."

But A&M doesn't really value a game against OU in the same way that Texas does, so why should they be in a pod with them and have to play them every year?   A&M would probably rather play LSU every year.

So you set up the schedule so that Texas plays A&M, OU, and Arkansas every year.

While Texas A&M plays Texas, LSU, and Arkansas every year.

And Arkansas plays Texas, Texas A&M, and Missouri every year.  (just an example, I have no idea if that would be their preference).

I can't speak for the B1G, I suppose it's possible that some teams have more than three trophy games every year?  But the three perma-rivals approach is at least one way to balance maintaining permanent annual rivalries, within the context of a mega-conference. 

I guess in my pod scheduling the members of each pod would change ever year according to the final standing of the previous year.  The Big Ten like the Sec has two powerhouse teams every year with four or five next level teams and everyone else.  The five next level teams could change every year hence the reasoning for changing pod members every year to be fair to all conference members. Strength of schedule should remain consistent for all.

that would be ok, still gonna be tough evening up with Michigan and Ohio St., but it's better

trying to make it as fair as possible is nice, but it'll never be fair

one season Michigan st is good, the next they're not

one season Illinois is bad, the next they're not

I understand pods, just want to play the same 7 or 8 teams every season like back in the day with smaller conferences
build familiarity, relationships, history, and rivalries

you know, what made college football great

Wow. Minnesota really gets dumped on.

Me no like.

since there's little chance of going back...

I'd cut down the middle East-West
8 team divisions with two cross overs - 9 game schedule

if we could get some sense and go back a little...

uninvite UCLA & USC - kick out Gers and Maryland

6 team divisions with 4 cross overs - 9 games

Best would be going way back to the Big Ten

10 team conference - 9 games

If you have a championship game there should be divisions.

This.
Scheduling a guaranteed rematch is the worst idea possible. It drains regular-season games of any meaning, and that's what USED to make college football great.
Now Alabama can lose and still comfortably make the playoff.
Hell, now a TCU can lose in their CCG and not move down at all, even to a 3-loss team.  Why even play the game?