re: How many teams would be 10-1 at this point...

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Schedule inequity is a real problem. I’m not sure the playoff committee gives it enough weight.

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They don't. Alabama is playing the game right. That's why I don't talk shite to them about their schedule. I would hate it as a fan, but their strategy is unquestionably better if you're trying to make the playoffs.

Until the day comes that the committee has five 13-0 conference champions from the Power 5, you are not going to get punished for putting Our Lady of Truth, Justice, Apple Pie and the American Way on your schedule four times a year if you go undefeated. There's an argument that you might want one reasonable Power 5 opponent early in September so your team gets tested before conference play, but from the playoff's perspective, they are not going to leave somebody out who went undefeated in a Power 5 conference unless they must (and if they must, say that all 5 conferences had an undefeated champ, the more likely result is playoff expansion).

Meanwhile, if you lose once, you're at the mercy not only of the committee's impression of your team but also the other teams battling it out. The committee clearly highly respects Alabama, since despite having a soft schedule and losing to their only real competition, they're still deep in the hunt and likely only need 3 games to break their way--Utah, Oklahoma, and Baylor losing. But if somebody else fricks it up, say LSU loses to Georgia or Ohio State loses to an 11-1 Minnesota, they're almost certainly out and they have no recourse. Given that all that is the case, why even put yourself at added risk by playing a tough OOC opponent? It's bad business from the perspective of the playoff hunt, even if it's good business in other respects.