8 teams.

ALL Conference champs get automatic bid including the group of 5, but they have to at least be ranked in the top 12. The remaining spots would be filled by at large wild cards (the top rated teams who didn't get an at large) Seeding will then be based off of rankings. The top 4 seeds will host the quarterfinals. Then the bowls will host semifinals and championship game.

this way conference titles are meaningful, but so does every game.