re: Wait, so now Notre Dame has to beat Clemson twice?

Quality of loss counts but not strength of schedule? Are you trying to say because Notre Dame joined the ACC for a year that their overall conference quality is better than the SEC?

If Alabama goes undefeated into the SEC championship and losses there is no way they get kicked out. If Florida wins out and beats Bama then they have to be in.

If Notre Dame losses the argument should be their strength of loss vs Ohio States strength of schedule assuming a Florida win.

Either way I see a Clemson vs Ohio State rematch in the first round.