selection criteria are in black and white (below) and have already been applied twice. In both instances, conference CCG winners were ranked ahead of higher ranked teams in the polls and/or teams with better records. TCU, Baylor, and Ohio State have all been ranked behind CCG winners.

A non-champ or independent must be "unequivocally" in the top 4. As Lawhokie said below and I agree, basically they have to be in the top 3. For teams on the "margins", they have 4 things they consider as functional tiebreakers.

Go through the protocol below and think about what 11-1 ND would have to do, and what others would also have to do or not do, to be "unequivocally" in the top 4.

TerryD and Goldendomer understand that in most years they probably wouldn't get in with that record. Swarbrick knows it as well.

ND has a right to handle their conference affiliation any way they choose. But the notion that anything but an undefeated ND...an unequivocal top 4...will get in is most improbable (1 or 2 in 10 perhaps?). They would need all kinds of help.

"a committee that will be instructed to place an emphasis on winning conference championships, strength of schedule and head-to-head competition when comparing teams with similar records and pedigree (treat final determination like a tie-breaker; apply specific guidelines).

The criteria to be provided to the selection committee must be aligned with the ideals of the commissioners, presidents, athletic directors and coaches to honor regular season success while at the same time providing enough flexibility and discretion to select a non-champion or independent under circumstances where that particular non-champion or independent is unequivocally one of the four best teams in the country.

When circumstances at the margins indicate that teams are comparable, then the following criteria must be considered:

Championships won
Strength of schedule
Head-to-head competition (if it occurred)
Comparative outcomes of common opponents (without incenting margin of victory)

We believe that a committee of experts properly instructed (based on beliefs that the regular season is unique and must be preserved; and that championships won on the field and strength of schedule are important values that must be incorporated into the selection process) has very strong support throughout the college football community.

Under the current construct, polls (although well-intended) have not expressed these values; particularly at the margins where teams that have won head-to-head competition and championships are sometimes ranked behind non-champions and teams that have lost in head-to-head competition. Nuanced mathematical formulas ignore some teams who “deserve” to be selected."