The process is pretty bastardized. The RPI is a poor representation.
The ACC as the #2 conference is closer in rating to the Big 12 at #3 than the Big 12 is to the Big 10 at #4.
In checking it out today, UCF is 56th in the RPI. They are ahead of 5 teams in the Big 12 ahead of them in conference standings. They are bunched up however. Three of those teams are 3-4 games ahead in conference. Houston is 44 spots lower in the RPI but 1 game up.
UCF and BYU are tied for 12th of 14 in the Big 12. They are 5-1 versus Stetson, #72 in the RPI.
WVU and UCF are a good representation of the RPI east coast circle jerk.
if you are 4/5 games under .500 in conference, you deserve to sit at home. You probably won’t notice it in the RPI, but it’s possible you may get a Mizzou or some other team that’s tanking it in conference to even get to that point.
It’s basically been 20 years of the ACC/SEC squeezing invites/hosts/seeding. That’s likely part of the reason FSU has so many CWS appearances and no titles. Significant favorable matchups until the CWS then wilt against talented teams.
FSU will never leave the state of Florida except for a few conference series, perhaps get some bottom feeder SEC team as a 2, Stetson as a 3 and SWAC team. They’ll then advance to match up with a “hot” Kentucky in a Super. A Kentucky that beat Miami that couldn’t handle Stetson in their regular season matchup. There you go. You’ve got a rep in the CWS.
Pull that shit for 20 years, add pay for play, and you get the balance you’ve got today. Surprise.