This wont matter next year. This year I think it’s more likely to have 3 undefeated than 4. But whatever, how will the National championship be decided? If Alabama runs the table they are definitely in. But what if #2 Oregon and #3 Clemson are both undefeated at year end? Does it automatically go to the #2? Are there deals that give 1 conference precedence over the other in such a scenario? Or is it a money calculation…Fan base A. is more likely to travel to Pasadena than fan base B?
The record and conference affiliation means nothing for the BCS Championship Game. The only policy is that the teams are ranked #1 & #2 in the BCS formula. The formula is comprised of 2 human polls and a collection of computer ranking. You could be 8-4 but if everyone votes you #1, you’re going to the championship over anyone with 0 losses (impossible situation, but it is hypothetically possible). In 2004, undefeated USC and Oklahoma were chosen to go to the BCS Championship game while undefeated Auburn was stuck in the Sugar Bowl.
The second part of your question deals more with the BCS bowls. The Rose Bowl will try to take Big Ten and Pac-12 teams. If the bowl has an at-large selection, they are more likely to choose a school based on money. In 2012, Michigan went to the Sugar Bowl even though they had a 10-2 record and there were some 11-1 teams that were qualified.
The bad part is that it won’t go away next year with the 4 team playoff. Since the teams are chosen by a selection committee, not any formula, they could choose a 9-3 team over a 12-0 if they wanted. I doubt they will, but I can see a 11-1 team from the PAC-12 getting in over a 12-0 team from, say, the AAC, and that would piss some people off.
In 2008, a two loss LSU and a one loss OSU were selected over the (then) undefeated Hawaii to go to the National Championship. No one was surprised or outraged (well, there possibly might have been some minor outrage on the behalf of some Hawaii boosters, who probably swallowed their furor after UH got stomped in the Sugar Bowl.)
The very next year Utah achieved an undefeated season, smashed Alabama and left them humbled, beat Michigan and Oregon State, as well as beating ranked TCU and BYU teams. An amazing year on their way to a national ch…
oh, two 1-loss teams were put in the championship game ahead of them.