Did last night strenghten the case for an 8-team playoff?

On the contrary, the CFP clearly to me had the four best teams playing and no more were needed.  They represented themselves very well.  That's not to say future years won't have the best four selected (or last year) but this year's playoffs sure didn't improve a case to expand.

Also - the more games added, the greater chance the whole damn thing will be decided by injuries.

But it must be capped at 8, no expansion beyond.  Power 5 conference champions get an automatic with 3 at large.  Seed similar to the NFL in that Conference champions are automatic top 5.  Would suck being the 5 seed and having to go on the road but it is what it is!  

Have no opinion on home games v neutral site, including the quarterfinal games.  From an economic standpoint, maybe the quarterfinal games at home stadium with semi and championship games following the same pattern.  I like the fact that the first 10 championship games are going to be at 10 different sites.  

if any of these 3 games break differently, Alabama is out of the playoff and we're talking about somebody else right now as the National Champion (Saban might owe JT Barrett a ring):

(1) If PSU hangs on and beats OSU.  Even with a loss the next week at MSU, PSU would be 11-1 and win the East.  The B1G title game vs. 12-0 Wisconsin is likely for a playoff spot: the narrow PSU loss at MSU is likely forgiveable by the committee, especially given the win in Columbus.

(2) If OSU doesn't lay that egg at Iowa.  The B1G title game is 11-1 OSU vs. 12-0 Wisconsin and the winner is probably guaranteed a spot.  OSU can overcome the Oklahoma loss because they have a number of wins that are higher quality than what Alabama can point to. 

(3) If Wisconsin beats OSU in the actual B1G title game.

I'm an advocate for moving beyond 4 so there's larger access for the likes of UCF or outstanding TCU/Utah teams in the past.  6 or 8, I could go for either.  But one thing about 4, it makes EVERY regular season game mean a whole lot.  There's a whole lot to be said for that.

I thought two years ago strengthened the case with the OSU, PSU and Michigan debate

1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. All P5 conference champions would be ranked in the top 8. Then there will be 3 buys to the other top 8 ranked team either in a P5 conference or outside. These first round game would be played at the home site of the higher ranked teams, then bowl contract through the next 12 years can take over with the 4 winners (just like the current 4 team playoffs agree in the contract). After that dumb contract is up, I would  have home series with the top ranked team winners then play the championship game at a different site, which could be indoor arenas in northern cities, such as ford field or the Indy dome.

If not 8 teams we should go with Brian's idea of 6 teams playoff scenario.

So you go to an 8 team playoff and the first time that a lower seed gets hot and runs the table, the 9th, 10th and and 11th place teams will have a claim that too could have run the table and should have a chance to prove it on the field.  Thus we go to 16.

Lather, rinse repeat.

The structure of college football with heavy emphasis on conference play and vast differences in SoS, simply does not lend itself well to a playoff format.

and the division structure is an impediment to qualifying teams into the playoffs and render the title games as one of the least important criteria for the CFP.

Better structure for P5 playoffs would be to:

1. Eliminate conference divisions
2. Expand conference seasons to 10 games
3. Restrict FCS opponents to one per season
4. Expand playoffs to 8 teams
5. First round in neutral NFL sites, the week immediately after regular season ends (in place of the conference title games / revenue sharing needed as an offset)
6. Semifinals on New Years Day
7. Finals on a Saturday night after NYD

Conference titles would be based upon the old format ... W-L record and league tie breaker rules.  So conference title gives a team bragging rights and a banner, but the body of a season's quality wins is all that really matters to the CFP rankings. 

I vote for a 64 team playoff. 

Make it 16 teams and I'm all in!  Non-playoff bowl games are boring, but making them playoff games instead would increase excitement, viewership, and obviosy revenue.