What if there was an optional matchmaking component? If I don't have any friends I want to play with, Can't I join a matchmaking queue for the game size I want. Then the chances of getting into a game with others who are friends IRL become really rare?

I'm just salty because I spent 10 days in a game where one guy had a friend who only seemed to help his friend and didn't care about getting 5th place.

Seeing quite a bit of this.. that's a good solution.

I agree, ranked games should always be random opponents. Unranked available if you want to play with specific friends.

Yup, there have been a lot of threads about this lately. I encourage people to keep posting about it so that something is done. Games are way too long to have them spoiled by pre-made teams.