The AAC won't be looked at as a P-5 conference unless the they get more access to the NYD6 bowls...and that just ain't gonna happen with the CFP as presently constituted.
#23 Boise St. was the only ranked G-5 team entering the season and the highest ranking Houston reached in the only poll that counted (CFP) was #19, regardless of their #13 ranking in the AP poll that same week. At 10-0 Houston was ranked behind 5 2-loss teams (Stanford, Michigan, Utah, FSU, and LSU). Navy (1 loss) was ranked behind those same 5 teams and 3 ahead of UH!!!
Let's run it down.
Chic-fil-A Bowl: Houston (AAC) vs. FSU (ACC)
Orange Bowl: Oklahoma (Big XII) vs. Clemson (ACC)
Cotton Bowl: MSU (Big Ten) vs. Alabama (SEC)
Outback Bowl: Michigan (Big Ten) vs. Florida (SEC)
Rose Bowl Stanford PAC 12) vs. Iowa (Big Ten)
Sugar Bowl: OSU (Big XII) vs. Ole Miss (SEC)
By Conference:
Big Ten: 3
SEC: 3
ACC: 2
Big XII:2
Pac 12:1
AAC: 1
The simplist way to see this is:
P-5: 11
G-5:1
All things being equal, P-5 teams have a 1 in 6 shot at playing over New Years Day weekend. G-5 teams have a 1 in 75 chance. At 10-1, Houston is ranked behind 3 loss Baylor, Oregon, Michigan, and Ole Miss. Every other 1-loss team is #7 or higher. Houston is playing the highest ranked team not in the CFP or Rose Bowl, who traditionally take the best Pac 12 and Big Ten teams. The powers that be intent on demonstrating that the G-5 doesn't belong. A G-5 program literally has to be perfect, and there still would be a snowball's chance in Hades they make the College Football Playoff. Equal access, my foot.
