"Never" to parts A and B. In the current system the only results that matter at all are qualifying for the final four, final two if you're really serious about success.
Man, I think that's just a very unhealthy way to look at college football (or any sport).
That's like being so focused on getting rich, you forget to live an actual life on the way.
It's like ... well, it's like being so focused on the ultimate goal that you miss the joy of reaching all the intermediate goals.
-- There is value in playing in one of the classic old bowls (esp. the Cotton, Sugar, Orange, Rose, and Peach) and beating a quality opponent, even if it's not for any title.
-- There is value in winning the East.
-- There is value in being SEC champion.
-- Heck, there's value in a single play, very well executed. Something that makes you sit up and say, 'whoa,' and rewind it to watch a few more times.
-- There's great value in a game that brings together a lot of plays like that, one where you can't help but smile a cheshire cat grin, ear to ear, out of sheer happiness that the lads put together something so...joyous. One game. Unknown importance. Just. Good. Football.
Yeah.
There are a LOT of results that matter in the current system. Only one of them being whether you get into the playoffs.
Go Vols!