BC$ scare tactics. No way the game returns to the old system entirely.
Without any insider knowledge, this is my hunch -- the ones threatening to "return to the old system" are the Big Ten/Pac-12. They have their panties in a wad over TCU being in the Rose Bowl and the future threat of Boise [the ultimate unwashed upstart]. Rather than agree to any further tinkering with their duel tie-in those two conferences will pull the Granddaddy of all self-entitlement out of the BC$ formula. IF [and it's a big if because I doubt they have the balls] they do that, the other conferences [whose bowl tie-ins are less prestigious and are to some extent subsidized by the BC$ championship game] would be highly likely to add at least a genuine plus-one to compete with the rival post-season constituted by the newly independent Rose Bowl. This would basically be what the short-lived Bowl Alliance was before the Rose joined the BC$ in 1998.
If the Big Ten and Pac-12 played in the Rose Bowl, while the SEC, Big East, ACC, Longwhorn Conference, and non-AQs played in a four-team playoff, which would generate more buzz and revenue? I don't think the Rose would stand a chance. Within five years those crusty fools would be begging to join the action.
So when I hear Hancock threatening a "return to the old system", I just want to tell him to go ahead and "make my day!"