The highest ranked remaining teams get the at-large bids. A #12 ranked team cannot be selected as an at-large at the expense of the #10 ranked team. If ACC champ is outside the top 12 then it will take top 11 to get in. If P12 Champ is outside as well then it will take top 10. If SEC or B12 qualify an auto-bid to a team not in top 12 then that moves the line up even further.
What matters is we need to be on of the top 2 or 3 (depending on if Cincinnati makes the playoff) ranked teams after the auto-bids to get an at-large spot. Currently we are sitting in 5th behind Notre Dame, Michigan St, Baylor, and Oklahoma - thus the statements why Michigan St and either Baylor or Oklahoma have to lose this week.