Penn State coach James Franklin believes 'everybody should be in a conference'

The Big Ten plays nine conference games in football. So does the Big 12. The Southeastern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference are among those playing eight-game league schedules. The Mountain West played a seven-game league slate. Notre Dame doesn't have a league.

Enough, Penn State coach James Franklin says.

Franklin — who raised some eyebrows last month when he said that former Alabama coach Nick Saban should become commissioner of college football, a job that doesn't technically exist and an idea that Saban didn't seem to like very much — was at it again Wednesday, saying on the eve of his team's matchup with Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Orange Bowl that the sport needs uniformity.

"I know a lot of times when coaches talk like this, people roll their eyes," Franklin said. "But I think when every decision that we make is based on finances, then we're not making great decisions that's in the student-athlete and the game of football's best interest. ... I think it should be consistent across college football."

Franklin — who was seated next to Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman as he spoke in the final news conference previewing their Orange Bowl matchup Thursday night — is not new to offering big-picture solutions to issues facing college football. He also made clear that he wasn't knocking Notre Dame, which views not being in a conference for football as a strength.

"I think it should be consistent across college football. I think, again, this is no knock at coach or Notre Dame, but I think everybody should be in a conference," Franklin began.

"I think everybody should play a conference championship game or no one should play a conference championship game," Franklin said. "I think