Who you play matters. Who you beat matters. Who you lose to matters. Also fact, some conferences benefit from biases at the very onset of the season because of brand perception.
I have to think antitrust factors into the SMU pick. Putting both Alabama and Indiana in over them, after screwing the ACC last year, would be a horrible look.
Regardless of all of this selection, seeding and byes debates, I’m super excited to actually watch a College Football Playoff. This should be the real story. It’s going to be amazing.