If I can figure this out, the playoffs would have looked like this:
1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Texas
4. Penn State
5. Notre Dame
6. Ohio State
7. Tennessee
8. Indiana
9. Boise State
10. SMU
12. Arizona State
16. Clemson
Notre Dame would have hosted Clemson
Ohio State would have hosted Arizona State
Tennessee would have hosted SMU
Indiana would have hosted Boise State
I would guess that the home teams would win all four of those games.
Second Round:
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Indiana
Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Tennessee
Another Bowl: Texas vs. Ohio State
Another Bowl: Penn State vs. Notre Dame
I'll guess that Oregon and Georgia would win.
We already know who won the other two games: Ohio State and Notre Dame.
So now we have Georgia vs. Ohio State and Oregon vs. Notre Dame.
Assuming Ohio State beats Georgia, it's irrelevant for who wins the other game, since Ohio State beat both of those teams.
Is that a better playoff? I like the idea that champions get byes, but I do think it's a bit silly that the #5 team would probably have the easiest trip to the Final Four and will get to the Final Four about 80% of the time.
