Let's presume that the CFB Playoff system aims to define the 12 best teams to compete for the National Championship. It can be argued such a goal is no longer the purpose of the current playoff format, but picking the 12 best should be the primary purpose of the Playoff Selection Committee.
Finding proof to determine the 12 best teams can use many data points. The most important one should be how many good wins by each Playoff contender. Specifically, wins over ranked teams, and how many of those wins came against the most highly ranked teams.
After Clemson won the ACC Championship in a miracle ending, the CFP Selection Committee had 13 Playoff contenders for the 12 slots. Emotions across the world of college football sided with SMU over Alabama. That is understandable. It is emotionally hard to deny an 11-win team a Playoff spot because its second loss came on a last-second 56-yard field goal in a conference championship game.
The CFP Selection Committee is not tasked with selecting teams based on emotion. Facts are more important to the committee than any 'feeling' SMU should not be excluded.
Beating Ranked Teams Favors Alabama Football
Only two of the 12 other contenders have a better record against ranked teams than the Alabama Crimson Tide. Oregon has four ranked wins (over No. 3, No. 6, No. 10, and No. 21). Georgia has three ranked wins (No. 2, twice, and No. 7), and Alabama Football has three ranked wins (No. 5, No. 15 and No. 19). Sunday morning the new rankings will shift the numbers.
Having two wins over ranked teams are Ohio State (No. 3 and No. 9), Arizona State (No. 16 and No. 18), and Boise State (No. 20, twice). Teams with one win over a ranked team are Pennstyate (No. 21), Tennessee (No. 11), Clemson (No. 8), and Notre Dame (No. 24).
Three Playoff contenders have zero wins over ranked teams. Texas has lost to No. 5, twice. Indiana lost to No. 6. SMU lost to No. 17.
The Selection Committee may find it can't make room for the Alabama Crimson Tide. What it should not do is claim that Alabama Football is not one of the 12 best teams.
One sound voice spoke out in all the swirl of emotion on Saturday night. CBS Sports Jerry Palm placed Alabama in his final projection of the 12-team field, with SMU being out. Palm has Alabama as the 11-seed; with Clemson as the 12-seed.
Another source, ESPN's Analytics, calculates the Crimson Tide, at 72.2%, as having the 12th highest probability of making the Playoff field. SMU is below Alabama at 28.1%.