When I was coaching, I didn't look at other folks rankings to decide who had strong teams. I made my own and was right more times for games between top teams. I gave teams points - equal to the wins against the team they won against. Zero for a loss. None of this "What's the record of the team you beat against other teams they played."
For this game: Schedule would include the three non-counting exhibition/pre-season games. The same 5 game non-conference games with points being given for the wins of the the defeated team to the winning team. Conference games - 5 games to decide who plays for the ConChamp. Again, wins points for these games. ConChamp games - no points awarded. Day off for the other non-ConChamp teams. Then 3 more games where win points are at stake. This will make teams who are on the verge of #1 or #2 have to play other high win teams or risk being dropped out of the NC race.
Possible points for the first 10 games - 45 points. Possible points for the last three games - 33 points. Gets to the win or stay home and makes teams play for the playoffs/bowls/title games. No subjective SOS BS, or convoluted formulas on who is ranked where. No chance of a soft schedule making the NC game.