A year ago, ESPN and College game day analyst Kirk Herbstreit was vilified by FSU Fans who advocate for it Alabama about an undefeated Seminoles heading to the 2023 Finals College Football Playoffs position.

The criticism he has received has understandably led Herbstreit to make similar announcements ahead of the unveiling of the College Football Playoff’s 12 teams on today’s Selection Day.

Still, after some harassment from ESPN Mike Greenberg To NFL countdown on SundayHerbstreit relented, if only slightly, by revealing that he expected the 13-member CFP selection committee to stick with the ACC runner-up SMU over a three-loss Crimson Tide for the final outright playoff bid.

“After last year, I learned that I don’t have an opinion on anything. I think everyone gets a trophy, everyone gets in. I don’t want any death threats, no punishment for 8 months for #FSUTwitter, so I don’t have an opinion on anything, I love everyone. But if you ask me what I think will happen – not what I want, I have no agenda, no conspiracy theories – then I think they will probably use SMU for what you say.” Autumn dispute told Greenberg early Sunday morning. “I think a team that was three spots ahead of Alabama has to play one more game, one more data point, and they lose on a last-second field goal.”

SMU lost the ACC championship game on Saturday night when Clemson Kicker Nolan Hauser hit a 56-yard field goal in the final second of the game, sending the 17th-ranked Tigers into the playoffs with a 34-31 win.

Now number 11 Alabama (9-3) sat at home in Tuscaloosa after missing the opportunity to defend its 2023 SEC title as a No. 5 seed Georgia Punch #2 Texas22-19, in overtime, to clinch the 2024 SEC Championship early Saturday in Atlanta.

“It hurts me because I think you’re going to see a turn in the other direction – nothing against Bama or SMU – I think you’re going to see ADs and coaches saying, ‘Wait a minute.’ Bama played that schedule and they had that record. SMU hasn’t beaten anyone, their best wins are Louisville And dukeand they will be ahead of a team that has kept that schedule.’ That’s what you’ll hear on the other side.” Autumn dispute said. “But if you ask me what I think the committee will do. I think they will use SMU because they needed to have additional data points while they were three spots ahead of Alabama. So I’m guessing SMU, but I have no idea what they’ll do. Keep me out of this. I’m just here to call the games and stay out of it.”

Alabama, SMU resume comparison before selection day

It’s finally selection Sunday for them College Football Playoffs.

So, ahead of these final rankings, ESPN broke down the resumes for Alabama and SMU Sports centerhighlighting four key factors.

Alabama
Record strength: 9
Game control: 6
FPI: 6
Strength of Schedule: 16

SMU
Record strength: 15
Game control: 12
FPI: 13
Strength of Schedule: 60

SMU, an ACC team, finished the season 11-2 and lost the ACC Championship Game on a last-second field goal Clemson. Their other loss was a 10 win BYU team at the start of the season. Now the question is whether the loss to Clemson would be enough to eliminate them from the playoffs.

Dan Morrison contributed to this report.