On Wednesday, Division I college football found itself on the cusp of adopting an actual championship format.

The only questions to ask are “What took so long?” and “Will this actually come to fruition?”

Last week, the FBS commissioners endorsed a four-team playoff, the four teams coming from a committee that will determine the squads by records, strength of schedule and other factors.

For years, the college and university presidents were adamant against having a playoff, thinking it would cut into their respective schools getting a larger piece of the pie. There was money to be lost by narrowing teams for a title. The schools’ biggest defense was that kids would miss too much class if a playoff went two or three weekends.

Never mind that the point was moot, considering most of the playoffs would fall into late December and early January, a time when most schools are on winter break.

With all the bowl games, the postseason is played from mid December to a week after the new year, some played after the Bowl Championship Series has concluded.

Oh, and never mind that Division II and III teams have a popular and well-run playoff system that seems to thrive.

The point is the all the bowl games can still be played — I get the games are a reward for a good or great season and that can still happen — but it shouldn’t affect anything if a handful of teams compete for the title.

Most schools know they don’t have a shot at a title anyhow. It shouldn’t come as any big surprise they are not among the top teams. I’m not a believer in the “look at all the debate it stirs.” In sports, people want athletes to reap what they sow. I don’t want voters to determine who they think the winner should be, especially if they don’t see the teams and just look at scores and final statistics.

I’ve been a proponent for years that a playoff series could work and everyone still benefits. For years, I’ve thought eight teams should play, not four, and should play over three weekends.

Trim back the regular season. Has anyone else noticed regular seasons have gone from nine or 10 games to 13, which includes some conference title games?

Too many games bog down the season. Everyone gets 11, then the bowl or playoff. I know, I know, revenue lost. But I don’t need to see a Division I power playing a Division II team to puff up the win total. And I certainly wouldn’t pay for it.

As for why the presidents wouldn’t go for it? Just because. They didn’t like it before, so they may not like it again. The four big bowls — Fiesta, Orange, Rose and Sugar — would work on a rotating basis for the semifinal games, then the highest bidding city would get to host the national championship.

As I’ve said, I’m a fan of eight teams — I know a team ranked No. 5 through 8 will argue its case, while No. 9 and 10 are too far removed from the top to say anything — as the four big bowls would each host a game, then just have a semifinal, then a final, but that’s beside the point.

A Division I championship winner could be in our future. One true, bona fide champion. We’re just one hurdle away.