Having automatic wins over patsies plays a role too. For mediocre teams, those wins can be the difference between becoming bowl-eligible or not.
That's why the have-nots want fewer conference games and more games with The Citadel.
Why Nick Saban, who has been advocating a 9-game conference schedule for a few years, has switched to saying nice things about an 8-game schedule, I can't figure. Maybe he now views Bama as a have-not, since the Tide has only gone to 2 of the last 4 NCGs. Maybe he has become an altruist, and believes that he needs to look out for the welfare of the downtrodden members of the conference.
A downside to the 9-game conference schedule, from what I have read, is that the requirement to play at least one OOC game against a P5 opponent would be revoked. So, drop Clemson, keep College of Charleston. Drop Ohio State, keep Kent State.