BREAKING NEWS: Kirk Herbstreit Calls Out College Football Playoff Selection Committee for ‘BS’ Decision on Indiana — Says Alabama Crimson Tide Deserved the Spot
In a fiery and unexpected on-air rant that has ignited national debate, longtime ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit has publicly blasted the College Football Playoff Selection Committee for what he called a “BS” decision in selecting the Indiana Hoosiers over the Alabama Crimson Tide for the final playoff spot. During ESPN’s College Football Final, Herbstreit didn’t hold back, unleashing a passionate defense of Alabama and calling the committee’s choice “shameful, inconsistent, and disrespectful to the sport.”
The controversy erupted just hours after the official playoff bracket was revealed, showing Indiana securing the No. 4 seed — despite having one less win than Alabama, a weaker schedule, and a less impressive showing in their conference championship. Alabama, which finished the season with a strong 11-2 record and an SEC title game appearance, was shockingly left out of the four-team playoff.
“This is not about bias, this is about basic football common sense,” Herbstreit said. “Indiana played a decent season, sure, but to put them over Alabama — a team that’s battle-tested, physically dominant, and coming out of the toughest conference in the nation — is absolutely ridiculous. It’s BS.”
Herbstreit’s explosive comments quickly went viral, with fans, analysts, and former players rallying behind his defense of the Crimson Tide. Social media erupted with hashtags like #JusticeForBama, #HerbstreitWasRight, and #CFPBias, as outrage poured in from across the college football world.
Many pointed to Alabama’s resume: a hard-fought season filled with statement wins, elite performances from quarterback Jalen Milroe, and a roster stacked with NFL-caliber talent. The Tide not only competed at the highest level week after week in the SEC but also passed the eye test — looking like one of the top four teams in America, even in their narrow losses.
Former Alabama players like Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, and Tua Tagovailoa chimed in online, echoing Herbstreit’s sentiment. “Alabama’s strength of schedule alone should’ve punched their ticket,” Ingram posted. “They’ve been through the fire. Indiana? Please.”
Fans in Tuscaloosa are understandably furious. The Crimson Tide faithful flooded ESPN’s comment sections and college football forums, demanding an explanation. Some are even calling for a full investigation into the playoff committee’s selection criteria and transparency.
While Herbstreit has had strong opinions in the past, this particular statement stands out for its urgency and emotion. As one of the most respected voices in college football, his passionate stance is likely to fuel debates for weeks and possibly influence reforms in the playoff selection process moving forward.
For now, Alabama will likely head to a New Year’s Six bowl, but the sting of exclusion remains. As Herbstreit summed up his frustration:
“If you watched football this year — if you really watched — you know Alabama is one of the best four teams in the country. And what happened tonight was a disgrace.”
One thing is clear: the College Football Playoff Committee has a serious credibility problem on its hands — and Kirk Herbstrei
t just lit the fire.
