The ancillaries partaking in the inaugural 12-team CFP are set. The field is a pretty holistic mix of teams from across the Power 5 and beyond. However, as with any collective, not all these teams are equal. Nor is the path they traversed to get to this point. The discourse, amongst fans and the media alike, about the schools that made it hasn’t been linear or consensual. One CFB personality raises concern over the involvement of 2 particular teams- much to the dismay of Curt Cignetti and Steve Sarkisian.

The strength of schedule is a labored but important facet of said discourse. For instance, Georgia faced a gauntlet of good teams but came out triumphant. Brandon Walker thinks a discrepancy in the route to the playoffs has led to a field that doesn’t even include the 12 best teams in the sport.

During the latest iteration of the Unnecessary Roughness podcast, Walker claimed, “I don’t think the best 12 teams are in [these] playoffs. I think schedule disparity throughout the conferences in this country have led to a playoff with three or four teams that just are not really good enough.” He proceeded to name Indiana and, rather bemusingly, Texas as beneficiaries of this perceived disparity.

“I don’t think Indiana in any other year would be near this playoff,” said Brandon Walker. The only playoff team Curt Cignetti and Co. came up against was Ohio State, who beat them handily. “Even a team like Texas. If Texas and Oklahoma switched schedules, Oklahoma would have went like 9-3, and Texas would not be in this playoff. The fact that Texas got such an easy SEC schedule created a path for them to get this easy ride.” he said.

The Longhorns’ first season in the SEC has been a relatively kind experience. Most teams in the conference fell victim to the strength of their comrades. Steve Sarkisian lucked into avoiding a difficult fixture list. That said, you can only beat what’s in front of you. As labored and cliched as that sounds, it’s true after all. This is exactly what both IU and Texas have done.

The notion that Indiana and Texas’ playoff status is unearned is perhaps a fallacy

Steve Sarkisian has asserted himself and his program at the big-boy table down in the southeast. Making the SEC Championship game was no fluke. While their opponents may have been favorable, Texas’ performances were irrefutable. Their defense, in particular, would’ve likely overcome a more demanding route.

Meanwhile, Curt Cignetti has run parallel in the Big 10. They didn’t face Oregon and lost their outing in Columbus to the Buckeyes. However, IU is top 2 in the nation in point-differential. They may not have faced playoff adjacent or even ranked opponents, but the Hoosiers mauled what was in front of them. Paul Finebaum has also expressed his disdain for Indiana’s disposition in the CFP.

Whether Brandon Walker agrees with the CFP committee’s decree or not is now settled. Texas and Indiana are playoff teams, after all. If you offered an Indiana fan, or even Curt Cignetti for that matter, a ticket to the CFP back in August, they’d have cut your hand off for it. They’re almost playing with house money at this point. That makes them more dangerous as a team with nothing to lose.

Steve Sarkisian has a more expectant program and fanbase in the backdrop. Merely participating in the playoffs is not a measure of success in Austin. Sark will look to thwart any naysayers and make a run at the Natty. Their path begins at home to Clemson. Indiana, meanwhile, makes the short trip to South Bend to face Notre Dame.