In no particular order:
- Bad losses matter. OSU's loss to an unranked Purdue was specifically cited as a factor in their placement
- Schedule matters. Likewise, OU was able to overcome their shaky (and that's being generous) defense because their loss was to a ranked team, at a neutral site, by a slim margin
- There was no doubt about Notre Dame at #3. Committee chair Rob Mullens made this very point when he commented that the committee 'breezed through the top three'. All this bullshit about whether we are 'unequivocally' better is just that, bullshit. An undefeated Notre Dame, with our more than competitive schedule, will make the playoff.
- ESPN talking heads - and most notably, Kirk Herbstreit - are of no consequence. Because they command the airwaves, what they say gets the most attention, but it shouldn't.
- The entire season matters, not just the last month. Mullens made multiple references to the 'full body of work', which would indicate late season wins are not more meaningful than those in September.
- 'Who's better' is a dead argument. See above. It is your full body of work, and your schedule, and not who may or may not be playing better on selection weekend.
Nothing earth shattering, other than it is apparent that this committee blocked out the noise and stayed close to the protocol. That's a good thing.