[ColoradoTree]

If in fact it comes down to a choice between a Pac 12 champ and another conference champ both with 2 losses (or both with any particular number of losses), then I think the perception of the Pac 12 as a deep conference, and one with difficult schedules, would help.

I think this is exactly right.  Perception of conference depth means a 2-loss Pac-12 champ likely gets in over a 2-loss ACC or Big 12 champ.  But my concern is that right now, Clemson and Florida State are miles ahead of the rest of the ACC, so the likelihood that one of them ends up with two losses is smaller than the chance Stanford takes two losses.  I tend to think Oklahoma will survive its schedule with no more than one loss (the only preseason-ranked team it travels to face is TCU).  The Big Ten might be a hot mess at the top, so I could see a 2-loss champ there, but that'd make me nervous.  I think we lose out to a 2-loss Alabama or LSU conference champ.

And I agree with your statement that not picking a Pac-12 team for the playoff isn't reflecting a perception that the Pac-12 isn't good; I think most people see the Pac-12 as a deep conference but one without elite teams right now.  And it's the latter perception--we don't have an elite team capable of rising above the fray--that I meant to highlight as needing changing.  I'm just concerned that it's not a wrong perception. 

[ColoradoTree]

If in fact it comes down to a choice between a Pac 12 champ and another conference champ both with 2 losses (or both with any particular number of losses), then I think the perception of the Pac 12 as a deep conference, and one with difficult schedules, would help.

I think this is exactly right.  Perception of conference depth means a 2-loss Pac-12 champ likely gets in over a 2-loss ACC or Big 12 champ.  But my concern is that right now, Clemson and Florida State are miles ahead of the rest of the ACC, so the likelihood that one of them ends up with two losses is smaller than the chance Stanford takes two losses.  I tend to think Oklahoma will survive its schedule with no more than one loss (the only preseason-ranked team it travels to face is TCU).  The Big Ten might be a hot mess at the top, so I could see a 2-loss champ there, but that'd make me nervous.  I think we lose out to a 2-loss Alabama or LSU conference champ.

And I agree with your statement that not picking a Pac-12 team for the playoff isn't reflecting a perception that the Pac-12 isn't good; I think most people see the Pac-12 as a deep conference but one without elite teams right now.  And it's the latter perception--we don't have an elite team capable of rising above the fray--that I meant to highlight as needing changing.  I'm just concerned that it's not a wrong perception.