We need to abolish the CFP selection committee after yet another embarrassment | Ian Miller

The NFL division winners make the playoffs plus 3 wildcard teams per conference. Neither is it without controversy. Teams with losing records who win weak divisions can get into the playoffs over teams with superior records. The system doesn't necessarily reward "deserving" teams.

I've always thought the only way, or the closest way, to "decide a champion on the field" is the way European soccer leagues do it. Each team plays every other team home and away. The team with the most points is declared champion subject to tie-breakers.

Since that's not possible in a sport with 100+ teams and relatively few games, college athletics will require selection criteria to declare a team champion, either directly or by a team-limited playoff. I don't know that the criteria can ever avoid subjectivity and bias.