I agree with the potential advantages and disadvantages. Take last year, FSU or UGA would have been a five seed, playing Podunk U at home. UGA or an unwounded FSU would have their starters out early in the third probably. Nice tune up with some possibility of a key injury. Then you go to a "neutral site" to play #4 who could well be some 10-3 Big 12 champion who perhaps is a "TCU" kind of program. If you win that one of course it gets real.
It’s hard to go back at previous years to prove the point because the conferences were constructed differently. You have to project forward. But it isn’t hard to imagine a scenario like this.
1. Georgia 13-0 (CFP rank #1)
2. Michigan 12-1 (CFP rank #2)
3. Clemson 13-0 (CFP rank #3)
4. Ok St 10-3 (CFP rank #15)
5. Alabama 12-1 (CFP rank #4)
6. Ohio St 12-1 (CFP rank #5)
7. Oklahoma 11-1 (CFP rank #6)
8. Oregon 11-1 (CFP rank #7)
.
.
.
12. James Madison 12-1 (CFP rank #23)
You think there is a possibility Georgia, Michigan, and Clemson are looking at Bama’s draw and thinking playing an extra game AT HOME against JMU might not be a bad trade off to get Ok St in the Quarters? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s an interesting thought.