Okay, so what is the CFP Committee telling us tonight?

First of all, if this were LAST year, we would be busy arguing over which of Alabama, Oregon, or Florida St we would be leaving OUT of this BCS Championship Game! So, none of that, "things were better with the BCS" baloney!

So instead, we all agree that you can't leave an undefeated, defending champion Seminole team out of the playoff. We agree that Alabama is the consensus best team in the land, and as winners of three of the last five titles, they have to be in it, too. And if the dominant team in the second strongest conference, consensus top four, the most potent offensive force in the country isn't there, then there will always be co-champions. So three spots are locked in. 

Who's number four?

The committee has made its choice, and they've made it abundantly clear tonight who it is. Understand, they're NOT going to leave Florida St out. But by moving the TCU Horned Frogs AHEAD of them, they're making the statement that TCU is SAFE. They're cushioned from their pursuers by an impenetrable, unbeaten, seemingly unbeatable Seminole wall of protection. Only if THEY lose (or Oregon, or maybe Alabama if it's badly enough) will Ohio St or Baylor have a chance. 

Oh, by the way, message number two? The Buckeyes lost their quarterback...and they're STILL placed ahead of the Bears. Baylor WILL NOT PASS TCU. Why not? Because, in the eyes of the committee (and ours, by the way, and at least one if not two members of ESPN's talking heads presenting the rankings tonight), Baylor has one loss, to 7-5 West Virginia, and TCU's only blemish (61-58 at Baylor two months ago) was by three points on the road (which is the exact spread for home field advantage) to a Tier A team under (let's be honest here) frighteningly suspicious circumstances, which we discussed in this blog at that time. They, like us, barely consider that a loss; it was a "push", at best. We could argue the fact that TCU's resume, including a third victory over a winning team (Minnesota), makes them better. We could argue the 'eye test' - they simply LOOK better than Baylor or OSU. But the fact is, their loss was at best extremely close, and at worst highly suspect. Neither Ohio St nor Baylor can make that claim. THAT'S what the committee said tonight. "Nothing the Buckeyes or (especially) the Bears do this weekend matters - barring a loss by a top four team, we've MADE our selections."