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Kirk Herbstreit has been adamant in his defense of the College Football Playoff’s decision to leave FSU out following a 13-0 season. The College GameDay host doubled down on that opinion Wednesday, going scorched earth on those that disagree with the omission.
He slammed what he called a “despicable lunatic fringe” of the Florida State fanbase, bashing social media users that have called him out.
Herbstreit was on board with the Seminoles becoming the first undefeated Power Five conference champion to be left out of the four-team event. When it came down to decision time, he believed Alabama was a better team considering FSU’s starting quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending leg injury.
But Hell hath no fury like a fanbase scorned.
Those outraged supporters quickly dug up receipts supposedly showing a CFP (and media) bias against the ‘Noles. One such instance involved a Herbstreit take on the College Football Playoff before Travis’s setback.
While the analyst has been direct in his defense of the CFP – noting that injury – he was heard pushing a narrative of Alabama OVER FSU prior.
Florida State fans have concocted a number of other conspiracies regarding the committee’s decision to pick the Crimson Tide, but Herbstreit has been a popular target for online vitriol.
On Wednesday, he bit back.
After fielding another shot from those social media critics, he typed out a lengthy response while simultaneously roasting those bashing him.
Because Alabama is BETTER!!
Period! So is Texas. So is Michigan. So is Washington. So is Oregon. So is Georgia. I watch 10-15 games a week live from September-early December. I think I’m allowed to have an opinion on who I think is BETTER!! If FSU doesn’t like itbis “The BEST 4”… https://t.co/gWJXL5xHnw— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 13, 2023
In that reply, he noted his football expertise, as well as the committee’s responsibility to put the “FOUR BEST” teams in the field as opposed to the “MOST DESERVING.”
“[I am] allowed to give an opinion in a subjective discussion,” he said, which is what irks Florida State fans the most.
Rather than the team’s play on the field being taken into account, it was left out due to a committee opinion that Alabama would fare better.
FSU fans are asking for transparency, which led Attorney General Ashley Moody to open an official investigation into the decision-making process.
Unfortunately, nothing will change the fact that the Seminoles were omitted from national championship contention. Hopefully, they can make the 12-team field in 2024.