Looking at the 13-person committee, there will be several presumably in favor of having a postseason. Those members may include Joe Castiglione (University of Oklahoma director of athletics), R.C. Slocum (former Texas A&M head coach) and Scott Stricklin (University of Florida director of athletics). There will also be committee members opposed to having a playoff this fall.
We may see those with Big Ten, Pac-12, MAC or Mountain West allegiances opt against having a playoff, while those with ties to the ACC, Big 12, SEC, AAC, Conference USA and Sun Belt be in favor of having one. Admittedly, it could get very dicey, but there are currently more conferences planning to play (six) than those who will not (four). Also, factor in the independent universities.
As for what the playoff could look like, the committee may go with the same standard four-team format. Presumably the three Power 5 champions of the ACC, Big 12 and SEC would get in with one at-large spot going to the next big team out of those three Power 5 conferences. Or…the Selection Committee could get weird and use this as an opportunity to be innovative. Why not?
What if it was an eight-team playoff with all six conference champions getting in and two at-large teams to round it out? Could the American Conference be elevated to the sixth Power 5 this season? The AAC has had more teams get the Group of 5’s New Year’s Six nod (four) than the other four Group of 5 conferences combined? Either way, it will be utterly fascinating what the committee decides here.