and Ohio State. will have crowned its champion and either Wisconsin will have won — clinching a place at 13-0 — or Ohio State will have made things very interesting. In the latter case, fans and the committee members will debate the next morning between Ohio State and Alabama (and perhaps a just-defeated Clemson). Also: in this hypothetical, Ohio State would be a conference champion, while Alabama would not, and the committee is instructed to consider this as one factor. Then again, last year an 11-1 nonchampion made the playoff — none other than Ohio State.

Source: New York Times December 01, 2017 12:00 UTC