I think FSU is the one that was highly overrated. I think they underrated OSU most of the year. Mainly because that Navy team almost kicked their ass - AGAIN ;)
Looking at all the bowels and results it should have been Alabama, OSU, Oregon, TCU in the final 4. TCU got screwed exactly like you said due to name recognition.
That being said until they run 16 teams in 4 weeks with the 10 conference champions in 1A They’ll never have a true champion - just do it like bball. With 16 they get all the conference champs, allow for an independent or two, and can even throw in a couple of the “name” conferences #2s.
The marxists at ESPN wanted the final four of the CFP to be all state-run government schools. Although both TCU and Baylor have become increasingly secular over the years, they are still at least nominally private. That wouldn't fit the leftist agenda of ESPN -- especially a school with Christian in its name. I never once heard ESPN call it Texas Christian University, it was always TCU to those ultra-PC morons.
And Art Briles was right. The Southern part of America was underrepresented on the CFP committee.
You only need an 8 man tourney. Take the 6 major conferences and two wildcards. Then you will have a true Champion.
Congrats to OSU