The real problem for TCU last year, aside from the totally bogus Baylor head-to-head argument (let's see who wins that game in Fort Worth, or anywhere other than Waco for that matter), was Florida State going undefeated.
Like Notre Dame a couple years earlier, it was one of the least impressive "perfect" seasons imaginable - overtime games and narrow wins galore against underwhelming opponents - and nobody's power ratings had them worthy of a spot much more suited for better teams who took on tougher schedules and thus had a blemish or two on their records.
But the narrow-minded "undefeated" argument unfortunately seems itself to be undefeated, at least as far as name-brand teams are concerned, and for whatever reason the committee and traditional media outlets gave Florida State the unquestioned right to a playoff spot because they hadn't lost in two years (their actual level of play on the field relative to the likes of TCU and Baylor be damned). In what other scenario would we say a team's worthiness of a playoff spot is based in no small part on its record from the PREVIOUS season?
Of course, as soon as the undeserving undefeated team lines up against a worthy opponent, they get exposed. Alabama had Notre Dame beat in the first five minutes. Oregon might as well have already touched down in New Orleans before the clock expired on the Seminoles - and TCU was at home watching, the day after dismantling a top-10 SEC power.
TCU has a real shot this year, and if Boise State is to stand a chance, they'll need to do more than go unbeaten - they need to annihilate everyone who's willing to stand in their path.
One of the biggest reasons I love this site is because, unlike most fans and media, guys like Malinsky and Fezzik see through the BS and call it like it is. And there's no way they'd have made FSU a favorite over TCU last December. You can't thrive as a professional bettor if you're not sharper than the rest.
Jess, you're on to something about TCU's omission from the playoff being one of few regrettable occurrences in the wake of an otherwise significant step forward in the process of determining college football's national champion. But in searching for an answer, Ohio State and the big conferences are the wrong culprit - unless you're looking at the ACC.