I like this idea, but how do you make the other 4 games not seem sad and unimportant exhibitions?YES!! 8 regular season games. 9th conference game is a playoff of the top 4 teams in each 3 team pod. Winners go to the CCG.
MEANINGFUL Football in week 13!!
Need to make them FUN somehow, because trying to make it high-stakes is not gonna work well given these are the also rans. It needs to feel like a bowl game atmosphere. Play for some kind of trophy? Winning team gets an NIL deal to support charity of their choice? Making it tougher, you can't plan ahead at all either, so it wouldnt be rivalry week. Maybe winners get a tiebreak for ccg spots next season??