This is more of an open ended question as I really do not have an answer, but it seems that every year, there is a different set of criteria and what the committee looks for when evaluating a team. There is no reason that Oregon, who finished the year unbeaten, should have a hard path and no way does Penn State deserve to have an easy one.

Having said all that, money/networks etc will always have a say in everything, but some type of common sense needs to take over. I always thought that 8 teams was a perfect amount for a playoff but no one asked me