Rickochet
There would still be a fair degree of controversy imo.
The best team doesn't always win.... that's ultimately the issue. But the best teams (imo) should always be in the playoff mix, which is also an issue given the manner in which the current process is.
I don't think anyone would balk at Wisconsin being in, OSU being in (for winning the Big 10 championship) or Georgia, or Auburn (since they did beat Bama on a neutral field), or Alabama (since their only loss came against Auburn) or Clemson, or Oklahoma obviously.
These are (imo) the best 6-7 teams in football... and have been the entire regular season.
It's why March Madness in college hoops is most entertaining, that even though the best teams are in the mix - it's win or go home. The strength of schedule/wins and losses only matter in the seeding, they still get a shot to win it all. But despite that - seldom are the fans left disappointed with the outcome. Why? Because if you win games in the national championship post-season - it's just assumed that you deserved to win.
College football can't logically expand to 68 teams... but they could expand to 6-8 teams without having to change much. And I do get that picking that 7th and 8th team isn't easy, as they could justify it however they choose, by what ever criteria they choose.
Maybe it's that there's not a real, exact criteria that makes this entire process easy, granted... but increasing the playoffs to 6-8 teams certainly adds a bit more legitimacy to the process imo.
They need to get it done. Bama and Wisconsin both deserve to be in. Find another worthy candidate (Auburn, TCU, whoever). Expand the field.
March Madness has never left the NCAA hoops committee facing questions about the end result. NCAA football would do well to get as close to that same concept as they can.