Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

There is really nothing amazing about Clemson’s opponents being ranked when they played them.  First off, it only happened twice during the season.  When they played NC St on October 20 the Wolfpack were 5-0.  Not unusual for a P5 to be ranked with a 5-0 record.

When they played BC on November 10 the Eagles were 7-2.  Again, nothing unusual for a 7-2 P5 team to be ranked that late in the season.

The same applies to non-con scheduling in basketball. Even though the BigTen went to 20 conference games last year, fortunately they primarily displaced guarantee games as opposed to big games.

I feel the same way and I'm very happy that, at least so far, the two extra conference games appear not to have displaced good OOC games. 

In basketball where losing to a good team doesn't really hurt you it makes sense to schedule tough.  It get you better attendance and more TV exposure with almost zero downside. 

Ohio State (winners of the team most often on the cusp award)

Every year of the CFP so far:
2014:
Ohio State was one of three "on the cusp" teams with one loss and a P5 Championship or co-championship along with Baylor and TCU from the B12.  Ohio State got in at #4 while Baylor and TCU were left out as #5 and #6 respectively. 

2015:
As a one-loss non-champion Ohio State didn't have THAT strong of an argument but most (or all) computer rankings had the Buckeyes (11-1, no CG) ahead of the Hawkeyes (12-1, lost CG), the Trees (11-2), and even that Spartans (12-1, B1G Champs) despite Ohio State's loss to MSU. 

2016:
The Buckeyes somewhat controversially got in at 11-1 with no CG appearance and ahead of an 11-2 Penn State team that beat the Buckeyes H2H and won the B1G.  The problem for the Nittany Lions was that they had two losses and both of them were bad (Pitt because they were a mediocre team, Michigan because PSU wasn't competitive). 

2017:
The Buckeyes got back to and won the B1GCG yet finished behind an 11-1 Bama team that had missed the SECCG.  The problem for the Buckeyes was that they had two losses.  The 31-16 early OOC loss to Oklahoma wasn't bad (OU was a CFP team) but the mid-season blowout loss in Iowa City was ugly. 

2018:
The Buckeyes won the second consecutive B1GCG and finished with just one loss but found themselves on the outside looking in anyway.  The problem was that there were three undefeated P5 teams (Bama, Clemson, ND) and another 1-loss P5 Champ (OU) ahead of Ohio State.  Oklahoma's loss was better (close vs TX) and they avenged it in their CG. 

So in five years of the CFP's existence the Buckeyes have NEVER been clearly in nor clearly out.  They have been in the debate range every single year. 

I agree totally.  But for some team than ends up 2-10 to have a tough schedule, it's not really notable compared with an evidently good team playing an evidently tough slate.

if the Aggies are truly MNC contenders, 3-1 is achievable.

We would expect Clemson or Bama to go 3-1  

well, if Bama or Clemson went 2-2, they are more than likely out of the playoff

I agree, it would be an accomplishment, but not miraculous.

an 11-2 team would need some help from the other contenders, but yes it's very possible

would be tough if the Sooners, Buckeyes, Clemson Tigers, and Washington Huskies all went undefeated, but.......... little chance of that