When you couldn't think the dynamics of College Football couldn't get any more crazy....

And they have all just been side stage acts to the playoff for a while now.

Everything has been just another bowl game for a few decades.
The Rose Bowl single handedly held back CFP concept for years. They still hold sway with the format because of their refusal to change. UCLA and SC won't be the last teams to leave the PAC 12, which will effectively end the PAC 12. Once that's done, the annual PAC 12/B1G game is done which removes a major PITA for college football organizing.