Alabama lost the benefit of the doubt when Saban retired. I'm over it. Three losses should be a disqualifier for the playoffs, regardless of circumstances. You should not be able to compete for a championship if you can't even win the regular season games.
I also feel like the seeding criteria will need to be re-adjusted. Winning your conference shouldn't amount to a be-all-end-all scenario for a bye. Winning your conference should be a single data point (with appropriate weighting) just like any other data point considered. There are only two real power conferences (you could make a case for the ACC depending on the teams on a year to year basis). How will the committee handle CCG upsets? I just don't understand why it wouldn't be like basketball with the highest ranked teams getting the highest seeds and winning your CCG is not a requirement, instead it's merely another data point.
I like the playoff system, and even though I've largely been against all of these changes that are ultimately turning CFB into a semi-pro sport, it seems like a battle not worth fighting anymore. It's happening whether some of us agree or not. So moving forward, what is the best way to do it? Personally, I'd prefer to see CFB become entirely independent. Use the ND model for sports with football being ind. and all other sports remaining in their respective conferences. If the goal is to turn CFB into NFL minor leagues, then why not set up the entire season in the same way that the NFL does? Does anyone think this is realistic? Is it the ultimate goal perhaps? I honestly haven't followed any of this until recently.
