In the BCS era, the AP poll pulled out of the BCS because they didn't like some of the things that went into the BCS formula. They didn't have to award the BCS champion with the AP championship trophy if they didn't want to (See USC in 2003). With the rampant anti-ACC slant of espin, and with only four playoff spots available for five power five conference members, there is a good chance the ACC gets left out, even with an undefeated record (it almost happened to FSU in 2014 even though the Noles were the only undefeated team and FSU continues to drop in the polls after winning this season). So how could the AP poll reward an undefeated ACC champion who gets left out, or maybe even prevent an undefeated ACC champion from being left out?
The answer is to reward the undefeated ACC champion with the AP national championship if that team wins it's bowl game. The undefeated, left out of the playoff ACC champion would likely play the highest ranked team available in a NY6 bowl. Win that game and it gets the AP trophy. This would give ALL the power five conferences a chance to win a share of the national championship, not just four of the five conferences. Of course this could also force the committee's hand and make them include an undefeated ACC champion (or any other undefeated conference champion who may be on the outside looking in at four other conference champions who aren't all undefeated) in order to prevent a split national championship. The CFB playoff is, after all, supposed to crown an undisputed champion. It would be hard to claim that when there is another team out there with the AP championship trophy. The question is, would the AP be willing to do this?
The answer is to reward the undefeated ACC champion with the AP national championship if that team wins it's bowl game. The undefeated, left out of the playoff ACC champion would likely play the highest ranked team available in a NY6 bowl. Win that game and it gets the AP trophy. This would give ALL the power five conferences a chance to win a share of the national championship, not just four of the five conferences. Of course this could also force the committee's hand and make them include an undefeated ACC champion (or any other undefeated conference champion who may be on the outside looking in at four other conference champions who aren't all undefeated) in order to prevent a split national championship. The CFB playoff is, after all, supposed to crown an undisputed champion. It would be hard to claim that when there is another team out there with the AP championship trophy. The question is, would the AP be willing to do this?
