If WVU goes 13-0, they make the CFP.
If WVU goes 12-1, they stand a decent shot at still making the CFP.
Regardless of what the talking heads state, it's really that simple. WVU controls its own destiny, and there's not a damn thing ESPN can do about it.
ESPN broke up the Big East right after it added TCU and was a monster BB conference
ESPN kept WVU out of the SEC and made sure Missouri got in
Despite WVU's 3-0 BCS record vs. ACC's 1-11, ESPN talking heads campaigned annually how the BE was unworthy of a BCS berth (WVU, Louisville, Rutgers, Cincinnati, UConn, USF, PITT were all ranked in Top 2-15 while league was gettig routinely hosed on ESPN)
Finally, ESPN prevailed to prevent undesirables from sneaking into a NC game by winning on the field. Blow up the BCS and make conference championships meaningless. Some conferences have 3-4 media darlings. Let a COMMITTEE say "Well, you guys did win but we luv Ohio State's body of work. Yes, they lost to hapless VT and TCU only lost to a Top 5 Baylor team it led by 21 late. Sorry. That's just the way it has to be. Now, if TCU were TEXAS or OKLAHOMA, That'd be different and something we could sell."
ESPN kept TCU and Baylor out of the CFP in 2014 for Ohio State
Even tonight Will Grier's name was 'conspicuously absent' from the Joey Galloway- Jesse Palmer Heisman discussion...and each picked about 5 guys from all over
There is PLENTY ESPN can do to influence the good ol' boy CFP beauty pageant by committee...don't be naive.
Look at 2007. WVU-Mizzou nearly a title game lock. WVU loses at home to 28-point underdog and RichRod quickly accepts plum reward of Michigan job, as so-called Wolverine frontrunner Les Miles of LSU was forced to compete vs. Ohio State in a much more palatable title game. Richie certainly left in a rush. He didn't want to talk about it. To anyone.
