It seems you have a completely different definition of settling it on the field than most people. Settling it on the field means wins and losses. It is the complete opposite of the eyeball test, which pollsters/committees use to deem the SEC a far superior conference because the teams look good beating each other up.I would disagree that winning a conference is settling it on the field. UCF won their conference and didn't get in. The reason they didn't get in is their conference didn't present enough challenges to earn a spot. Now why should we reward a conference that didn't earn it on the field such as the Pac this year? As for Georgia in 2018......they didn't get in that is irrelevant. As for Georgia in 2017. They deserved to be in there as they were the best team in the Nation.
@Hotlanta Husker 's plan settles it on the field by guaranteeing the best teams (conference champs settled on the field) from the 5 best conferences (based on history/eyeball test/money) plus a random really good group of 5 team (settled on field/eyeball test if there are 2 undefeated teams) get in. Nobody who gets left out has a valid complaint, but there are still 2 spots for wildcards that lost a tough early season game or Georgia/LSU or whatever the committee wants based on the eyeball test.