You know, until the SEC....and other teams in the South like Clemson, Florida State and Miami....end their monopoly on national championships, those teams will get favorable attention by the media.
The SEC has has won 10 of the last 17 championships and with Clemson, Florida State and Miami chipping in (2016, 2013 and 2001) that's 13 of the last 17 championships. That's definitely a monopoly if there ever was one.
The four championships by non-southeastern teams over the past 17 years were won by Ohio State (twice), USC (at OU's expense, 55-19), and Texas.
Nothing will ever change until teams like Oklahoma, Penn State, USC, Texas, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame can break the stranglehold and stay on the same level consistently. Frankly, I don't see that happening. Not anytime soon as I see it.
Needless to say, Oklahoma and Notre Dame face huge challenges in 9 days.