I can't completely agree with that, in part because of the variables. If everyone is healthy and the game is played on a truly neutral site? Sure, I think that is usually the case. But, injuries, the rigors of the schedule, etc... play a huge role in how things actually play out.
College football can still produce these results that boggle the mind. Nebraska had 2 losses, at that point the same as Stanford, Texas A&M, LSU, etc... They play a Wisconsin team that was 4-4 in conference, that would have 6 losses and they don't just get beat, they get beat 70-31. Kansas St. lost to 5 loss Baylor team 52-24. This isn't just interesting when contrasted with what you're talking about, it's interesting because in MOAN's proposal, both Wisconsin and Kansas St. are in a playoff.
I think the moral of the story is this, anything can happen on a given Saturday in college football. I think that's why the polls are of such a huge value, because it allows us to take all that chaos and make sense of it. A playoff is just an easy way out...
Middle of the pack? That statement is ill informed, unless you are going to claim that Oregon, Florida St. and Ohio State would have been middle of the pack to.
As far as those other schools, did you notice Georgia lose in the SEC championship game? Did you catch that? You want to put them right back in there and go ok, didn't count.
Forget all that, let's draw up your playoff and see how it stacks up. We have the 5 power conferences so they'll play the role of your 5 imaginary ones.
SEC: Alabama - No argument there.
Big 12: Kansas St. - I don't think they belong, they did get blown out after all, but they did just have one loss.
Pac-12: Stanford - This is a two loss team, that already was beaten by Notre Dame, you know the middle of the pack SEC team, so why on earth do they belong?
ACC: Florida St. - Two loss team, which you think is worthy of mentioning, because losing to NC State is apparently the way to make a run at a national championship.
Big 10: Wisconsin - Because, after all that's a playoff without a mediocre team? Glad to see you found room for one. 5 loss team playing for a championship.
At large:
Notre Dame - Hey look, a team that actually belongs!
Florida - Well, look at it this way, they wouldn't lose to Clemson.
Oregon - Another chance to fail.
Ok, so that's your criteria. 5 automatics, 3 at large. No Georgia, Texas A&M, no Louisville, and obviously no Ohio St. You're doing the classic grass is always greener argument, you set up a 8 team playoff, then you go and you name 6 teams, most of which wouldn't even make it in your own scenario!
Do you want to try again?