we're focusing a lot on Ohio State obviously, but lets not forget. if USC plays Akron instead of ND, then USC is in the playoff as well.
this is what sucks, teams that challenge themselves, with "true" road games, with multiple tough OOC games or play a 9 league schedule will always be at a disadvantage until the committee has the stones to put a 2 loss team (with a good resume like USC or Ohio State this year) over a 1 loss team and cite specifically it's the 8 game conference schedule and lack of OOC opponents. until then, Bama's doing what's right for Bama. I think it sucks, I think it leads to less a less exciting regular season, I don't think it's particularly fair, but it is what it is. so the PAC, BIG, BIG 12 have to decide, do we all go back to 8 games, scheduling FCS etc? I wouldn't blame anyone for doing so, because the committee's stance on scheduling tough for the last 4 years is pretty BS.
now, if you're not a helmet, if you're northwestern or something, you're probably in a particular bind, because you gotta go 13-0 if you play a weaker schedule. not fair either, but that's what the committee is saying.