re: LSU will be #2 in the final rankings

The problem with your assumption is that it ignores the obvious disadvantage that comes with not being number 1 in this playoff. Whoever is number 1 does not have to worry about playing LSU AND Clemson, or LSU and Ohio State, or Clemson and Ohio State, in LSU's case.

Those three teams are CLEARLY the best three teams, with Tua now being out. Teams like Georgia and Utah are not overly impressive, and I'm not deceived by Alabama blowing out Western Carolina with Mac Jones. Bama's offense went stone cold in the Mississippi State game after Tua went down.

This isn't to suggest that it's a guarantee to beat any of those teams. Of course not. Nor does it mean that LSU should fear Clemson and OSU. But let's not pretend that one path isn't, on paper, considerably less stressful than the other. Whichever team comes out of the 2 vs 3 matchup, will have played a very physical game.

And I hate that the committee uses "eye test". That's entirely subjective. Yeah, LSU's defense has struggled. But do they think that same Ohio State team that beat an overrated PSU team, which had a backup QB playing basically the entire second half, by 11 points at home would have beaten Alabama on the road? And what about LSU's wins over Auburn and Florida? Even the win over Texas, as overrated as they were, was on the road in a highly emotional season opening game. I'd say that stacks up as a more impressive win than beating Cincinnati, who has been stacking up 5 point victories over 3 and 4 win teams.

The resume is what should matter. But the committee is too lazy to examine anything, so they just go with whatever their gut tells them.