certainly there is some randomness. what they really want is helmet schools to schedule each other to drive viewers. could those helmet schools suck that year? Yes possible but if it is early in the year everyone is excited and the helmet schools will likely be ranked(not that it is fair, it is just what it is).
the portal will increase the potential randomness.
basically the only thing I have seen the committee give a shit about as it relates to big ten and sec, other than losses, is H2H and that is only really when they are significantly forced to consider it. they have to because it involves a win or a loss and not a "metric" but it only involves "tied" teams. They could really screw the pooch with their considerations a) the Texas OSU OOC game and b) H2H(Miami/ND). they already don't give a shit about SOS. common opponents seems fucked as well. Texas 2-0 vs 1-1 against ND.
SEC/Big Ten are grouped by losses and in general ACC(minus Miami/FSU/Clemson) and Big 12 have to have 1 fewer losses than those 2 conferences to be sprinkled in, SOS be damned. Big 12 is hurt by not having a "helmet school" and ACC has new helmet in Miami, FSU, Clemson. Big 12 is better overall than ACC though.
IMO, the SOR was specifically created to give them significant cover so they can use the loss column. Your are telling me that the schools in the top 14 on SOR are the exact same 14 that are listed by the CFP but that SOR is not almost completely related/weighted to the loss column?
TLDR: do everything in your power to minimize the number in the loss column