Stop overthinking it. Your expanded list of qualifications and arbitrary line(8) is no more valid a selection criteria than his one qualification.
As an example, this site regularly shits on the AP poll but I see a heavy influence of the AP cited here. Of course, if you followed football history, you know Penn State didn't get the bump Notre Dame got with media and polls as an independent. They would regularly talk up Notre Dame out of one side of their mouths while denigrating Penn State for being independent out of the other side. Penn State was independent until the 90s and had many an undefeated season without a chance at #1 poll ranking.
Penn State has long been a recognized brand in modern college football with a lot of wins and multiple titles/undefeated seasons. They are the top program in a State that regularly produces great college and NFL football talent. They have lots of long standing traditions and a large, rabid fan base.
You disagree, fine but don't pretend you or anybody else is an authority on an arbitrary classification.