I'd advocate for going back to determine the tiebreaker h2h champions, while accepting the true co-champ years (a la 2002) up to the point this wasn't possible. Or if you go back far enough to where you had the 2002 situation every year for a long run of seasons.
It could just be an era acknowledged as true champions. In creating teams from the past for Whoa Nellie, I'm just putting co-champions...but it's bothersome. And I can't just go by who went to the Rose Bowl, thanks to the stupid no-repeat policy.