College Football World Reacts to Alabama Being Left Out of Playoffs

The 2024 College Football Playoff bracket was officially set on Sunday and the biggest controversy surrounding the committee's selections once again centered around the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Alabama was left out of the expanded playoff field in favor of the SMU Mustangs, who grabbed the No. 11 seed and will visit No. 6 Penn State in the first round. This decision comes just one year after the Tide got into the field over Florida State, who were left out despite posting a 13-0 record and winning the ACC.

The debate between the two teams arose following Saturday's ACC Championship Game game, where the 11-2 Mustangs lost to Clemson 34-31 by way of a last-second field goal. Some argued that SMU fighting valiantly in a "P4" conference title game was enough to warrant its inclusion. Others argued that despite its 9-3 record, Alabama should've gotten in based off strength of schedule. The CFP committee ultimately chose the former path, leaving the Crimson Tide out of the playoff field for the first time since 2019.

Pundits and fans alike instant reactions to this decision, including former Alabama head coach and current ESPN commentator Nick Saban:

"If we don't take strength of schedule into consideration, is there any benefit to scheduling really good teams in the future," Saban said after the announcement. "Here at Alabama, we're supposed to play Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Florida State in the future outside the league. Those are great games for fans to see, and that's what I think we should be doing in college football is creating more good inventory for great games that people are interested in, but do you enhance people wanting to do that -- what's the athletic director going to do? He may go cancel all those games now, knowing the SEC is tough enough."

Saban predictably stuck up for the program where he won six national championships and fans of the program agreed with his scheduling sentiment.

"We know two things at least. Warde Manuel is a damn liar, and there’s no justification for playing a decent schedule," said SB Nation's 'Roll Bama Roll.' "There better be nothing but MAC slop on the slate from here to eternity." However, they did acknowledge that the Tide's poor play in certain games put them into this predicament. "Get off of the bus in Nashville and Norman. Alabama owes this result as much to themselves as anyone else. That jersey ain’t beating anybody."

Many college football fans ended up agreeing with the committee's decision, including some Bama fans themselves:

That’s fine with me," said one Alabama fan. "BAMA played their way into this by no-showing that game in Norman. #RollTide"

"Shocked that the College Football Committee picked SMU over Alabama but good for them (Committee) for not being intimidated but The Nick Saban Misqute," said one X user.

"It’s okay to say Alabama is the better team but SMU deserved to be in," said one Bluesky user. “Better” teams get left out of the playoffs in every sport. Also it’s awesome we are no longer debating teams that are undefeated but didn’t play anyone. Both of these teams can only blame themselves for being on the bubble."