According to Art Briles, national champion Ohio State was three votes away from not even making the inaugural College Football Playoff.

During an interview with a group of reporters Wednesday, the Baylor coach noted "a source" told him that the Bears fell short of the fourth and final playoff spot by "an 8-to-4 vote."

Baylor coach Art Briles said Wednesday that his team fell just short of edging Ohio State for the final spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Instead, the Buckeyes got the final nod and went on to beat Alabama and Oregon to capture the national title.

"We were close this year," Briles said. "We were an 8-to-4 vote getting in from the No. 4 spot. Whether that's public or not, I don't know, but it is now. Unless I'm getting bad information, and I won't give you my source."

If Briles' source is in fact correct, it would defy the playoff committee's selection protocol.

The 12 committee members each vote separately at individual computers, and via secret ballot. In other words, the only way the committee members themselves would know how anyone else voted would be to ask, or to look at another committee member's computer as he or she voted.

Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP, said Ohio State was clearly the No. 4 team.

"All votes are taken confidentially, and about three dozen votes were taken every meeting. Teams are considered in groups no smaller than three. An 8-4 vote would not be possible under the committee's protocol."

Briles has been critical of the selection committee since the Bears were left out of the playoff.

"I think the committee needs to be a little more regionalized with people that are associated with the south part of the United States," Briles said the day after the final rankings were revealed. "I'm not sure if there's a connection on there that is that familiar with the Big 12 Conference. To me, that's an issue."

After going 11-1 during the regular season, the Bears fell to Michigan State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, just hours before Ohio State defeated Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl semifinal.