As of late, the CFP Committee seems more focused on handing out participation awards rather than truly compiling the “Four Best Teams”. It started with the inclusion of non-Power 5 Cincinnati in 2021, because “daggumit, we deserve a seat at the table even though we play an inferior schedule!”. Then last season, the screeching and moaning from the Big 12 had been going on just long and loud enough to finally give B12 runner-up TCU a golden ticket to the Final 4.
This year, it’s almost as if the CFPC has already decided who will be in the playoff as they bend over backwards to get a PAC-12 team in.