The College Football Playoff has been the hot point in sports discussions since the final four teams were announced last Sunday.
Florida State’s coach, fans, players and alumni were outraged after the Seminoles finished the season undefeated, won the conference championship and are part of the Power Five and were still left out.
It’s the first case since the College Football Playoff format was invented that a team with those credentials was left out, and many believe the committee didn’t think Florida State could compete without their Heisman caliber starting quarterback Jordan Travis, who is out for the season with an injury.
There will be debates, discussions and controversies surrounding the decision all the way up until the actual games are played, but Alabama head coach Nick Saban has become the focal point for haters, as many believe the committee couldn’t leave a brand like the Crimson Tide and one of the greatest coaches in the sport out.
Alabama had just knocked off the No. 1 team in the country and the only loss on the Tide’s resume came to Texas, a team that also made the Final Four. The Crimson Tide earned their spot.
Nick Saban Responds To Haters Over College Football Playoff Decision
On Thursday, Saban joined the Pat McAfee show and was asked about his thoughts on how the College Football Playoff finalists played out and the hate aimed at him with the decision.
"We've won 11 straight games & beat the number 1 team in Georgia..
I'm proud of how we played in the SEC Championship & we've been on the outside looking in.
I also have compassion & feel bad for the teams that have an argument to get into the CFP & didn't" ~ Coach Saban
"My phones been getting blown up from people who didn’t get in, as if I’m responsible for that,” Saban said.
He then brought up a valid point many have overlooked.
“Look we have been on the other side of this,” Saban continued. We have been the team that didn’t get in, we have been the fifth place team, so we kind of know how it feels.”
But when it’s all said and done, Nick Saban made it clear where his focus was when it came to this situation.
“My responsibility and obligation is to our team,” Saban said. “So I did my best ability to promote what we did, winning 11-straight games, beating the No. 1 team in the country in Georgia, and we are a different team now than we were in the season."
Saban Feels Bad For Teams Left Out Of College Football Playoff
Saban has a reputation for being a hard-nosed coach who may lack empathy for his opponents, but on Thursday, the Alabama front man admitted he sympathizes with the teams that were left out.
“I actually feel bad about it, because there really are a lot of teams this year who could make an argument that should say, ‘we should be there. I get that.”
Saban didn’t take away from how proud of he is of Alabama’s improbable run to the 2023 College Football Playoff, but continued to show empathy for the teams that were left out.
“ I feel great for our team, and what they’ve been able to to and the opportunity to play the No. 1 team in the country in the Rose Bowl. But I also have compassion for the teams that have an argument to get in the College Football Playoff but didn’t.”
Saban was asked about Georgia, a team that was ranked No. 1 in the country heading into the SEC Championship.
“Look I think Georgia has a great team, they are one of the best teams in college football. I don’t know who should have gotten in, but I know it was a great game.”
When it’s all said and done, this year’s scenario is the exact reason why the College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams next year.
While Florida State and Georgia had the best arguments to get in this year and didn’t, even the teams behind them like Ohio State and Oregon could likely hang with the top four teams on any given night.
Now, all we can do is wait for this year’s CFP to play out — hope for an exciting end to a wild year in college football — and wait until things ramp up to a whole new level with 12 teams next year.
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