1) You'd have non-conference games to make money, TV content, sell tickets to entertain fans and for students and alumni to have fun getting hammered it the tailgate, it doesn't have to mean anything beyond that. But you'd still need a "resume" to vie for the wild card spots, and I'd mandate 12 games to make sure we all have fun and they don't stop playing out of conference to stay healthy for the league.
2) TO ME, rivalry games and bowls and upsets would be the same as now, why wouldn't they? Every game TO ME is a stand alone entertainment event, that I enjoy without thinking what else might be on the line, and that's how most people are. If Pitt beat Bama and Bama still could get in by winning their conference title, that doesn't dimin9ish the upset at all. Do you go to a tailgate party? Let's say they are 15 people in your group, how many are thinking of it being more than just an afternoon and evening of having fun, only some diehards like you "CARE" about implications or meaning.
3) The G5 Spot, unfortunately would be subjective. But I just add them in so that they at least have a guaranteed path and if they don't deserve that, they should have their own tournament. Or else go to 16 teams and give all of their champs a bid. And if they don't deserve that, then they should not be considered SAME LEVEL as the P5 and be put out, or else take their 12 best teams and make it a sixth power conference or something like that. or have play in games for the G5 to join the 8 P5's, make them play an extra week.
The way it is now, bores the hell out of me, VOTING and how it's almost impossible for new teams to rise up and get in. Even P5 teams, like Pitt for example, could go 12-0 and they'd be discriminated against based on perception and history. Many of you don't agree, but I just want there to be a PATH for everyone, but it does AMAZE ME to no end, how people don't even think winning a P5 Championship makes you deserving.