teams... I will tell you with certainty that since these auto bid teams can be ranked anywhere - even outside top 25 (although CFP will almost always move them into the top 25 if they are going to be in a NY6) - that we are competing for our ranking against every team. Because even a #6 ranking in years of the Fiesta/Peach semi-final games could leave a team out. Now if all auto bid teams fall 1-7 (8, 9, 10, 11) then technically you only have to be #12 in any given year to get in.
So yes we in fact are always competing for our ranking against everyone since the ranking (a high enough ranking) is the only thing that will put us in.