So lets say JJ McCarthy goes down and out for the season against Iowa. Are they left out the playoffs too?

if so, then Liberty should be in the national semifinals

Every team has off days. Bama is having a down year imo but they are still better than Florida State, even if Jordan Travis doesn't go down. There are years when I would argue that the ACC is arguably on par with the SEC but this isn't one of them. And I'm not one of those "the SEC is so much better" guys but there is no way any selection committee known to man is leaving the SEC champion out of the playoff. Personally, I probably put FSU in over Texas but this is what we face with a 4-team system. There are arguments to be made all around. Take solace in that this is the last year of these arguments.

@StumpTownStu

Its not the last year

This same thing gonna happen next year only the numbers will change. Instead of arguing about 4 they will argue about 11-12

Or a 2 loss team vs a 1 loss team

And on and on and on ...and on and on and on

The committee is bias against cheating Michigan and will find a team that has the best chance to take them out. 

Michigan #2.  Since #1 got dethroned, Michigan goes to #1.  We know that 1 plays 4 so they need a team that can beat cheating Michigan.  Only two teams that can do it.  Bama or Georgia.  You can't put Georgia in because they don't have the sec championship ring to qualify.  Bama it is.  

A rematch between bama vs Texas will be better for ratings.  Pac 12? A joke

If bama wins Michigan, they will take it all.

If Michigan beats bama, still have Texas to take them out. 

You can tell how harbough was fumbling with his speech after knowing that he's up against the Michigan killer.  If harbough last game, he wants to go away with that trophy.  His dream got diminished hence his reaction during the press conference.  The script, according to me is to retire Saban with that trophy.  Future hall of famer goes out large and with a bang.  

Any of the top 5 teams can take out Michigan. Hell TCU took them out last year, and Georgia blew them out the year before. They have not fared well in this tournament because they cannot play D or match up athletically with the other teams. Everyone claiming committee did not want another TCU situation when TCU won a semifinal game last year and put it on Michigan. FSU is far better on TCU with NFL players all over both sides of the ball. Yes, Bama is going to beat the piss out of them too. 

Interesting 

                                                       The playoff spot was earned.

Michigan should’ve been left out of the CFB playoffs regardless if they had JJ McCarthy or not. Bama will prove my point 

This committee and its games are owned by ESPN.  The narrative has to change every year to keep propagating sec dominance and make sure they get at least one team, preferably two get in.  They wouldĄ¯ve been in a pickle if JT didnĄ¯t get hurt justifying the same final rankings but may have just kept texas out.  Next watch how the replay booth behaves if itĄ¯s a tight game they can help keep the sec school aliveĄ­. This Ą°tournamentĄą is all about money for espn

@TRAIN69

 You are clueless about defense.    Michigan would throttle any big 12 school 

 And rightfully so...Who won the natty the last 4 years? Georgia..Georgia...Bama..LSU.....U make no sense...Until proven otherwise the SEC is the best conference..and will get even better..with Texas and OU joining... What conference gets the most players drafted and has the most players in the NFL? You guessed it..the SEC

Easier to win playing in a tournament hosted by your dad.  Most likely to get favorable matchups, replay booth calls, and multiple teams in.  They change the rules every year, but the point of all of it is to make espn money.

Reading some of the crap people post is amazing!   Im not sure some people can ever take u serious.   

The losing QB is not a valid point.  Did backup QBs go 3-0 in conference championships.  Did backup Browning torch the Jags.  Who would of thought that.  It is what makes sports exciting the unknown.  Florida St went undefeated in a Power 5 conference. They won 3 games with backup qb.  Everyone is saying Florida St would get blown out.  So what if they did most of the playoff games are blowouts anyways.  Fl St held LSU to their lowest point total of season to 24 and 7 came on garbage late.  Whatever QB they have would have a month to prepare as well.  The Travis out angle is just idiotic.  

This argument will be settled when fsu plays Georgia

We will see who's right or wrong 

Hold that thought till after Georgia blow them out in bowl game with their starter guys sitting out.  

There is a reason why the committee do not believe FL St and her undefeated team can even beat Michigan.  Bama proved they can take down #1 Georgia.  Michigan is next. 

The committee has and always will put in anyone they want. This started in the first CFP year. 2014. Let me break it down. TCU IS #3 going into final weekend and blows out Iowa State. Ohio State goes into final weekend VS. Michigan with a brand-new backup quarterback. The QB who had played the whole year since the first game Barrett went down late in the last game. So, Ohio State who is #6 wins with Cardale Jones. Yeh remember him. 

Anyway, CFP drops TCU TO #6 Put OSU #4. #4 With a QB who has played 1 game. Guess who won the CFP that year? Oh yes, they did. OSU! Point is anyone can be in this mess, and anyone can win this mess. The CFP holds the Golden Hammer.

The difference this year is cheating Michigan and what the committee is going to do about it and still be in compliance with the publics view.   Astros and the world's series or Brady deflate gate?

Like zebras, which team is the script in favor for?  They added bama in which is like letting the tiger back into the race and now Michigan is sweating all over again.  

Spot on with all of this. The committee and the media's defenders of this BS, claim they do not want blowouts in these games when that is usually what the fans get regardless of what teams are in. I read since the 4 team playoff started (2014), only 6 of 18 semifinal games have been decided by 14 points or less (2tds). Ironically, last year both semis were within a touchdown including TCU (who actually beat Michigan). The average margin of victory when 1 beats 4 is (20 points per game). Average margin of victory when 2 seed beats 3 seed is 33 points per game! The committee does not care about keeping games close, they are just making up excuses to secure SEC's spot. They do not have some crystal ball in which they know how games turn out or can guarantee games are close when the majority of the times they are not close. 

None of these fans or committee members care about blowouts when Clemson blows out Bama in a title game, or Bama blows out Ohio State or Notre Dame, Or Georgia blows out Michigan in semi. It's all nonsense.

ESPN and committee just wanted Bama and SEC in, plain and simple. Please stop with we don't want another TCU in like last year. First off, TCU won a semifinal game and put up 50 points on a Michigan team praised for their defense. Secondly, FSU is a storied program with an elite defense, NFL athletes everywhere on both sides of the ball, unlike TCU last year. 

Yet you will keep watching their  Playoff rankings show, they win.   They donĄ¯t care if anyone is mad, still make exact same amount of money.  Fascinating that Texas isnĄ¯t mentioned as team that doesnĄ¯t belong, Big 12 schedule is rough.

I mentioned I have no idea how Texas jumped FSU either to #3 for beating OK St. Said that the day they won Big 12 when people were hyping them. So odd. Who actually watches that show? The only thing that matters is final rankings. Committee does not give a shit about it's own rankings.