SEC
They got smashed in bowl games last year. Maybe another bad bowl season will wake people up.
The SEC benefits from projected rankings that are made before a single down has been played. When teams fall, even early on, the stick around because of those same rankings. I think the SEC finally got exposed for not being all that great of a conference this year.
I truly believe Alabama is a very good team, but it's because of what I see when I watch them play. Their resume to me is garbage. It's really not that much better than Ohio State's. I don't really care about having a good or a bad loss, because I don't see a huge difference in them usually. Although, I'll say that MSU's loss is about as good as it gets, considering they were badly jobbed by a poor call.
If Clemson loses and UNC gets in over Ohio State, ok, but people better be prepared for the possibility of Ohio State getting in. I think it's quite possible. The committee has the right to take a team that didn't win it's conference if they "unequivocally" think the team is better.
I think the SEC and Big Ten were pretty similar this year, although I'd give the nod to the Big Ten for having Michigan State and Ohio State (both playoff worthy teams even if OSU doesn't get in). Iowa is a really good team (weak schedule, not their fault) and Michigan is halfway decent (overrated). Outside of Alabama, I'm not blown away by anyone and not any of them are worthy of a playoff.
SEC fans will continue to roll out hilarious excuses though.