I have always been a realist. I am an Alabama football fan through and through, but if I legitimately believe Alabama football will lose a game I won’t hesitate to say so. That outlook persists into college football, and sports, as a whole.
Central Florida can make up fake national championships all they want, but objectively they were not a playoff team in 2017 or 2018. Should they have gotten a chance in the playoff? That is debatable.
If you follow the letter of the rules laid out for the selection committee then the answer is no.