Clemson
Alabama
Ohio State
Georgia
Oklahoma
Boise State
What do 5 of those schools have in common? They are competing for NCs year in and year out. Its not like lots of schools are out there doing it.
You can't compare it to times past. It has to be put in context of current times. You could argue that Rockne or Leahy's teams weren't as impressive as Holtz because they only had to win 8 or 9 games. A lot more teams over the last 3 years went 8-0.
What it tells me is that we are right there knocking on the door of the elite. No reasonable people are saying that it is the same as Holtz's run, but it doesn't deserve an asterisk. It stands on its own as an impressive accomplishment.
I will add also that Alabama, Oklahoma and Clemson all took ass beatings in the playoffs over the last 2 years (plus Ohio State in 2016). Georgia may get theirs this year.