“It was a mistake": Paul Finebaum faults CFP selection committee for picking SMU over Alabama

Alabama missed out on the College Football Playoff on Sunday. The selection committee gave the last spot to SMU, leaving the Crimson Tide as the first team out of the playoffs. The decision has been subjected to a series of debates among college football fans and the media.

ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum appeared on "First Take" on Monday morning to offer his verdict on the decision of the CFP selection committee.

“It was a mistake, but I’ll say I understand where America is,” Finebaum said. “We all saw that feel-good story on Saturday night when this great bunch from SMU, on the verge of getting blown out and came all the way back and missed by a field goal.

“So the country says they deserve it. Forget deserving, are they better than Alabama? No, they are not better than Alabama. SMU would probably have 5 or 6 losses if they played in the SEC with Alabama or Georgia’s schedule.”

Alabama’s playoff resume included three wins over top-25 opponents while SMU failed to defeat a single ranked team all season. Additionally, the Mustangs’ schedule was ranked 75th according to ESPN’s metrics, compared to Alabama’s far more challenging 17th-ranked schedule.

Paul Finebaum believes Alabama has itself to blame

After defeating LSU in Week 11, Alabama's path to the playoff looked clear as it had three games against inferior opponents to play. The Crimson Tide had Mercer as well as struggling Oklahoma and Auburn in their schedule, entering all the games as massive favorites.

However, Kalen DeBoer’s team went on to record a loss against Oklahoma in Norman, leaving its playoff chances in jeopardy. Paul Finebaum blames the Crimson Tide for not taking care of business against the Sooners, which is responsible for the playoff snub. (Start at 1:06)

“In the end, and I’ll make this quick, Alabama did it to themselves,” Finebaum said. “If Alabama had not been blown out by Oklahoma 24-3 a couple of weeks ago, I think they would have found their way in. Ultimately, Alabama can blame the committee, but they outta look in the mirror.”

Missing out on the playoff in the year it's getting expanded to 12 teams is a far cry from Alabama's level of dominance over the years. It puts Kalen DeBoer's first year in Tuscaloosa in a bad light, and the Tide will need to bounce back in the 2025 season.

After missing out on the CFP, the Crimson Tide will now face Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. This will be a rematch of last season's Rose Bowl where the Wolverines came out victorious.