So going back further
Again, this was 2021
1. Alabama
2. Michigan
3. Cincinnati
4. Baylor
5. Georgia
6. Notre Dame
7. Ohio State
8. Mississippi
9. Oklahoma State
10. Michigan State
11. Utah
12. Pittsburgh
but this would have been 2020 - 2 "little" guys would have been in - bold = conference champ, underline = "little" guy
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Cincinnati
5. Notre Dame
6. Texas A&M
7. Iowa St.
8. Florida
9. Georgia
10. Oklahoma
11. Indiana
12. Coastal Carolina
2019
1. LSU
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Oklahoma
5. Georgia
6. Oregon
7. Baylor
8. Wisconsin
9. Florida
10. Penn State
11. Utah
12. Memphis - they were ranked 17th so up some
2018
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Oklahoma
4. Ohio State
5. Notre Dame
6. Georgia
7. Michigan
8. Central Florida
9. Washington
10. Florida
11. LSU
12. Penn St.
2017
1. Clemson
2. Oklahoma
3. Georgia
4. Ohio St.
5. Alabama
6. Wisconsin
7. Auburn
8. Southern Cal
9. Penn St.
10. Miami
11. Washington
12. Central Florida
it is pretty similar going back. The only year the 6th conference champion wasn't in the top 12 was Memphis in 2019. Every other year the smaller school has been a top 12 team 2 seasons ago, 2 of them would have qualified (and both were in the top 12). In other words, the smaller guys are going to get their chance and the last 2 years Cincinnati would have had a bye and Central Florida a few years back would have hosted the 1st round at its campus. If the small schools continue to perform, they will get more respect.