First, let me say that this is not my system of choice. I would give the "power five" (SEC, ACC, PAC-12, Big Ten, and Big 12) an automatic bid each, and then have three chosen "wild cards" based on some form of criteria, for an eight team field. With that said, I don't think this committee got anything wrong, under this format.
Alabama is the best team in the country, and won the best conference, and they got in with the top seed. Florida State is the reigning champs, won their league, hasn't lost in two years, and they got in too. Oregon is the team everyone loves to watch, they won the PAC-12, they've been ranked near the top all year, and they're in. One of these three teams is likely to win the national title. They all have a shot to. No one got snubbed who I think can win.
Now, the fourth spot counts though, and you're giving one team a shot to surprise us. I would have given it to Baylor. They beat TCU, the best win of any of the three teams, and I think the Big 12 is a little better than the Big Ten this year. With that said, Ohio State is white hot right now, winning three games against ranked teams, away from home, late in the season. They just beat Wisconsin 59-0 on Saturday with their third quarterback. They're a bigger draw than the other two teams. In a group that is pretty close, picking the hottest team with the proven coach, who happens to be the "big market" team, is fine. It wasn't my choice, but it was probably my second choice.
The reality is that TCU and Baylor shared their conference title, and both took a loss this year. Sure, so did Ohio State, but that left it all up to chance. The committee made a choice. I can't knock the choice, and I don't feel a ton of sympathy for the "almost in's."
For the record, my prediction is Alabama crushing Ohio State, Florida State edging out Oregon, and Alabama ending Jameis' magic run in the title game.
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