The Twitterverse overfloweth on Saturday with passionate declarations about who's a lock, who hasn't played anyone and who passes the so-called eye test. Coaches used their postgame platforms to plead their cases. Commissioners and athletic directors haven't been shy this week, either.
There are only 13 opinions that matter, though; and if there is one thing consistent about the College Football Playoff selection committee, it's that it doesn't seem to care what anyone outside the room has to say.
The group watched the conference championship games at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas, on Friday and into Saturday night, the only time of the season the committee members watch together to discuss the teams as the games unfold. While the conference championships are extremely important to their final verdict, it is only one part of the season-long evaluation. In this subjective system, the value of titles and strength of schedule depends on each committee member.
The committee has its protocols to follow to choose the four best teams, but it also gives the group the flexibility to choose teams that didn't win their leagues, contenders like Notre Dame and Texas A&M. And therein lies the heart of the debate.
While Alabama and Clemson appear to be destined for a top-four spot, every other team has at least one major question the committee will consider:
Ohio State
Best win: Nov. 9 vs. No. 11 Indiana, 42-35.
Worst loss: N/A
The committee will consider: Ohio State played six games, the fewest of any of the contenders, but three were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Buckeyes were able to punctuate their abbreviated résumé with a Big Ten title against a top-15 Northwestern team, though, and conference titles are one of several factors the committee uses as tiebreakers when trying to distinguish between otherwise comparable teams. The question is whether it thinks a six-win team is comparable with any other contender that played significantly more games. Two of Ohio State's six wins were against CFP top-25 teams. Ohio State also is ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The committee will recognize that Ohio State was able to win without 22 players, including starting wide receiver Chris Olave and starting linebacker Baron Browning.
Playoff politics: "People can say whatever they want [about the CFP]; they have their opinions. I'm not going to talk about other teams because I think we have enough to talk positively about our program. But I'll say this, if we have an opportunity to play anybody in the country in one game, I'm going to take the Ohio State Buckeyes." -- Ohio State coach Ryan Day
Final judgment: They're in. The committee hasn't held the Buckeyes' schedule against them to this point; there's no reason for it to do that now. The Buckeyes could jump to No. 3 with Notre Dame's loss.
Notre Dame
Best win: Nov. 7 vs. Clemson, 47-40, 2OT
Worst loss: Saturday vs. Clemson, 34-10
The committee will consider: When Clemson has Trevor Lawrence and a healthy defense, it's a totally different ballgame. Notre Dame was beaten soundly in every facet, particularly up front. The defense flustered Ian Book for four quarters. Still, Notre Dame has arguably the best win in the country, against the ACC champs. The Fighting Irish also played 11 games and earned two wins against CFP top-15 teams, including North Carolina on the road on Nov. 27. Wins against Boston College and Pitt (both 6-5) don't hurt, either. If Notre Dame or Texas A&M is going to finish in the top four, the selection committee protocol states they have to be considered "unequivocally one of the four best teams in the country." Both teams had lopsided losses. Neither team won its respective conferences. Both have played grueling longer schedules than Ohio State. To this point, the committee has deemed Notre Dame better. Did one game change that?
Playoff politics: "We've got two top-15 wins. We've got a win over this Clemson team that was No. 1 in the country. I don't know that anybody has a résumé that has those two wins, and we've played 11 games. That matters, playing 11 games. Testing your team week in and week out, I think in my mind puts us as without question as one of the top four teams in the country." -- Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly
Final judgment: The Irish are in at No. 4. Notre Dame still has two wins against CFP top-25 teams, and while Saturday's result takes some of the luster off Notre Dame's earlier win over Clemson, it doesn't take it away.
Texas A&M
Best win: Oct. 10 vs. Florida, 41-38
Worst loss: Oct. 3 vs. Alabama, 52-24
The committee will consider: The Aggies didn't win the SEC West, but they have won seven straight conference games -- more games than Ohio State has played all season. Unlike the Buckeyes, though, the Aggies don't have a conference title. Texas A&M has two wins against opponents over .500 -- Florida (8-3) and Auburn (6-4). The Aggies' double-digit loss to a top-four team would be discussed when comparing the Aggies with Notre Dame, because the Irish just suffered the same fate against Clemson. Texas A&M has one CFP top-25 win. Texas A&M did exactly what it needed to on Saturday in its 34-13 win against Tennessee, but the committee knows the Vols are a 3-7 program, so that won't do much to boost the Aggies' résumé. The best thing Texas A&M has going for it is its sheer number of games played (nine) against SEC opponents. The question is whether enough committee members think the Aggies look the part of a top-four team.
Playoff politics: "Seven straight SEC wins. Some schools ain't even playing seven games. I don't care what league you're in. If you're gonna pick the best four teams, we're one of them. We do deserve to be in it. You're gonna hear me say it now. We deserve to be in it. Now the committee, that's their thing, but I believe that firmly. I've watched the games -- I've seen everybody. We can play with anybody." -- Jimbo Fisher
Final judgment: The Aggies are out. Florida losing didn't help, and beyond the win over the Gators, Texas A&M doesn't have enough on its résumé to prove it is "unequivocally" one of the four best teams.
Cincinnati
Best win: Saturday vs. No. 23 Tulsa, 27-24
Worst loss: N/A
The committee will consider: The Bearcats beat a top-25 Tulsa team to earn the AAC title, but they entered that game ranked behind three two-loss teams because of their schedule strength and the eye test. Was the conference championship enough to change that perception? There are people in the room who simply believe other teams are better, and while Cincinnati found a way to win a nail-biter, committee chair Gary Barta pointed out the Bearcats "struggled" in their win against UCF. Does this fall under that category? Cincinnati should still climb, benefiting from losses by Iowa State and Florida, but it's also possible Oklahoma leapfrogs the Bearcats after beating the No. 6 team in the country to win the Big 12.
Playoff politics: "I believe this team deserves a shot. Unfortunately, it's not up to me. The thing you've got to look at is the body of work, and I know it's about playing your best ball at the end of the year, but I think you've got to say everything that was thrown in front of these guys, they've been successful. This is a football team that, quite frankly, I don't know how they're going to be denied." -- Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell
Final judgment: The Bearcats are out of the top four, but they will earn a bid to a New Year's Six bowl as the highest-ranked Group of 5 team.
Oklahoma
Best win: Saturday vs. Iowa State, 27-21
Worst loss: Sept. 26 vs. Kansas State, 38-35
The committee will consider: The Sooners have improved significantly since a 1-2 start, and they were able to prove it by avenging their regular-season loss to the Cyclones on Oct. 3. OU ranks in the top 12 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and it earned what was one of the best wins of the weekend. Those two losses, though, are part of the entire résumé. Oklahoma has three wins against CFP top-25 teams in No. 20 Texas, No. 21 Oklahoma State and now No. 6 Iowa State. Are those wins plus a Big 12 title enough to overcome two losses?
Playoff politics: There really weren't any. Lincoln Riley was more upset about not having any of his defensive players on the first team of the All-Big 12 squad, despite OU being the best defense in the league.
Final judgment: Oklahoma is out. A two-loss team has never made the CFP, and while it's possible, this isn't the year for it. There are too many other talented contenders ahead of the Sooners with one loss or fewer.