re: Ranking the 1-Loss Playoff Teams by Quality Wins

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I could pretty easily argue there is a conspiracy to have 4 loss USC ranked #23 (with losses to 6-4 Washington and 6-4 BYU) and 3 loss A&M (with 3 losses to Top 15 teams) unranked.

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I agree with you. But again, compare the brands.

My belief is that USC and Texas A&M should be ranked. USC beat Utah, so you have to give them credit for that.

My complaint with the back half of the rankings are all the mid majors that have played no one. Boise State is not a Top 20 team for instance.

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And that would completely flip what you just posted around......which is just another reason why it's stupid to draw a line at #25, as if USC at #23 and Texas A&M at #27 are drastically different because of some arbitrary cut off point.

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That's fine. Now do Penn State.

Losing at Top 10 Minnesota by 5 points... in a game in which Penn State had a 1st down at the Minnesota 11 yardline in the final 2 minutes with a chance to go ahead... is not a whole lot different than losing at home to LSU the way Alabama did. I'll give Bama a bit more credit, but not by much considering they lost and never once led in their home stadium.

But Penn State won on the road at #17 Iowa and beat #13 Michigan.... far better than any Alabama win. And yes, Texas A&M might be #26 for all we know, but Indiana and even Pitt are both probably in that "next 5 out category" along with Texas A&M, so again, Penn State's overall quality of wins is MUCH more impressive.

Based solely on quality of wins and losses, Penn State should be ranked ahead of Alabama.