That's a wild take, and it's ignorinng the entire context of the season. Sure, SP+ might like five ACC teams right now, but who have they actually played? The ACC's non-conference wins are a joke, and the middle of that league is softer than ever. Look at the actual matchups. Cal gets to avoid Florida State and Clemson this year, their two legit teams. Their "tough" schedule is playing a bunch of teams that will finish 7-5 and get exposed in their bowl games. Meanwhile, even the middle-tier SEC West teams are facing multiple top-15 opponents just in division play. The week-in, week-out physicality isn't captured by a preseason metric. Cal's path is absolutely a soft landing compared to walking into Death Valley or Bryant-Denny, and you know it. The ACC is a one-bid league for the playoff, and that's only if Florida State runs the table. Selling that schedule as tougher than the SEC grind is pure fantasy.