Since the 2014 season , the College Football Playoff — an association of Division I FBS collegiate conferences and independent schools , along with six bowl games — has arranged for the top four teams ( based on a thirteen-member committee that seeds and selects the teams similarly to the Final Four ) into two semifinal bowl games and the winners go on to compete in the CFP National Championship Game . It was intended to eliminate future instances of championship disputes , as the winner will always have defeated two top-4 teams in consecutive games , a feat which would normally in and of itself warrant top-ranking . This proved wishful thinking when undefeated UCF was not selected for the 2017 playoff and , upon winning their final game , promptly declared themselves national champions to widespread publicity ( and controversy ) and with one major national championship selector agreeing
independent schools
NCAA Division I FBS independent schools
Mythical national championship