In the end, the College Football Playoff committee valued conference championship participation over strength of schedule.

SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff on Sunday, bumping Alabama out of the first 12-team bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1.

“After the last few years, I think they got it right,” ESPN analyst Booger McFarland said. “Based on the criteria we have to dela with this year, I think they got it right. I think when you look at some of the things that the coaches have said, especially Lane about penalizing a team for playing in a championship game, you don’t want to do that. And I’m glad they didn’t do that to SMU.”

The selection committee preferred the Mustangs (11-2), losers of a heartbreaker in the ACC title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama (9-3) of the SEC but, ultimately, still one fewer loss.

“This was a very difficult conclusion to come to because there was no winning,” SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy said. “You had consequences on both sides. You put Alabama in the field, you are now de-incentivizing participation in a conference championship game because SMU, had they decided not to play the ACC title. They say we’re not going to go. They are at eight. What are you going to do? Drop them out? So, you are de-incentivizing the conference championship game. Or, you are going to de-incentivizing the strength of schedule and teams willing to go out of conference and play more difficult opponents.”

The expanded bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear that there is no perfect formula for identifying a champion.

“There was no winning here,” McElroy said. “It was a catch-22 for the committee. They went with what they thought was the most justifiable outcome.  It’s hard to push back on it, but I don think moving forward with where we are with … we need to put a heavier weight on strength of schedule because Indiana’s schedule is not comparable to that of Ohio State’s schedule and they are playing in the same league.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.