“Got embarrassed by a 6-6 Oklahoma team”: Kirk Herbstreit rips Crimson Tide to shreds following Kalen DeBoer’s first year 

Following his take about Alabama deserving a chance in the College Football Playoff ahead of Florida State in 2023, there was a perception that Kirk Herbstreit wanted the Crimson Tide in again in 2024. Fans believe that the analyst played a role in the exclusion of the Seminoles last season.

Kirk Herbstreit defended himself during an extensive discussion on Tuesday morning’s Andy & Ari On3 podcast. The ESPN's "College GameDay" analyst took the opportunity to address and clarify misconceptions surrounding his public perception of the playoff.

Kalen DeBoer's inaugural season as Alabama's head coach concluded on a disappointing note, as they suffered a 19-13 loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday, finishing year 1 with a 9-4 record. Speaking on the podcast show, the analyst was clear that Alabama did not deserve a playoff spot.

“Alabama had no shot,” Herbstreit said Tuesday. “I don’t know how people thought I thought Alabama (was in), I was very clear leading up to (Selection Day), how can you put Alabama in when they went and lost – not only lost but got embarrassed by a 6-6 Oklahoma team.

"So they really weren’t in it. South Carolina lost to Alabama and Ole Miss. There wasn’t like another team anybody was hitting the desk for like, ‘This team has to be in.’ I didn’t say that."

Kirk Herbstreit addresses ESPN’s alleged SEC bias

A section of college football fans hold the belief that Kirk Herbstreit and other ESPN analysts show favoritism toward the SEC, often defending the conference in their commentary. This became widespread after the exclusion of Florida State from the CFP in the 2023 season.

With just one SEC team left in the playoffs, this has been a recurring discussion in recent weeks. According to Kirk Herbstreit, the lineup of Ohio State, Texas, Notre Dame and Penn State is a win for ESPN, showcasing the broader appeal of college football beyond the traditionally dominant SEC.

“Let me straighten the record on one last thing,” Herbstreit said. “ESPN loves the SEC so much, that we could not have paid for a better Final 4, with Notre Dame and Ohio State and Penn State and Texas. The only one missing is Michigan, if you could somehow wedge Michigan in.

“So like, this idea that we want Alabama and Texas A&M and Auburn, are you kidding me? Like if you’re asking us who we would want, uh, we’ll take Ohio State every year, Notre Dame. Like this is a ratings bonanza.”

Without a doubt, the SEC has been the dominant conference in college football over the last two decades. The league has won 13 of the last 18 national championships, boasting different winners, including Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Florida and Auburn.