[ChicagoCard]

I think it would be hard for the committee to exclude the Pac-12 champion (particularly one with only a single loss, as in your scenario), however at least one Power 5 champion will obviously have to be snubbed.  An ideal playoff system, to me anyway, is one that grants berths to each Power 5 champion.  That way we can avoid all this kind of discussion.  However, I'll take this system over the BCS any day of the week.

But this year, as opposed to last, there have been some inconvenient non-conference losses. It's not hard to see Clemson and Baylor winning out, and there's the top-heavy Big-10.

[ChicagoCard]

I think it would be hard for the committee to exclude the Pac-12 champion (particularly one with only a single loss, as in your scenario), however at least one Power 5 champion will obviously have to be snubbed.  An ideal playoff system, to me anyway, is one that grants berths to each Power 5 champion.  That way we can avoid all this kind of discussion.  However, I'll take this system over the BCS any day of the week.

But this year, as opposed to last, there have been some inconvenient non-conference losses. It's not hard to see Clemson and Baylor winning out, and there's the top-heavy Big-10.