How about going with the NFL proposal (18 game season, but any single player can only play 16):
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ule-with-a-16-game-limit-could-actually-work/
As the linked article points out, only about 30% of players actually play in every game in a given season anyway, so for most, the "forced" games off are something they would already be utilizing.
For college, how about a 12 game season, but any given player can only play 10? The linked article states that QBs and kickers should be exempt from this rule in the NFL, but I say no exemptions in college. Wouldn't you love to watch Mansell take the entire Rutgers game? You have 85 scholarship players, you should be able to field a decent team even if some of your players are unavailable.
The strategery would be crazy. Should we sit Stanley vs. Rutgers or vs. Mid Tenn St.? And then if we sit him during Rutgers, what a slap in the face.
To add another level to it, let's even give teams/players the options to play all 12, but in so doing they sacrifice a year of eligibility. Wirfs and Epenesa, you guys better be ready to go each week.
Having a rule that not all players can play every game would be really interesting. But wrong!