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Nick Saban has a new gig, moving onto his next professional venture after retiring from Alabama. The former head coach will soon join ESPN’s College GameDay crew as an analyst to preview college football’s top matchups.
While the move represents a step towards the future for Saban, FSU fans are still stuck in the past.
The Seminoles haven’t forgotten how the 2023 season played out with Alabama getting the nod over Florida State despite the ‘Noles undefeated record.
In an unprecedented decision, the College Football Playoff committee opted to leave a 13-0 Power Five champion out of the four-team field.
Many on the Florida State side immediately cried ESPN collusion. They believed the committee had a vested interest in the Crimson Tide’s inclusion, whether that be for television ratings or their massive SEC contract.
The committee, meanwhile, pointed to an injury to Jordan Travis as reasoning behind the Seminoles’ omission.
Now, those FSU supporters believe they have their proof.
ESPN hired Nick Saban to join the College GameDay crew shortly after his retirement in Tuscaloosa. Did they already know he was calling it quits ahead of the Rose Bowl loss to Michigan?
Saban to ESPN confirmed.
They 100% knew he was retiring and put Alabama in the Playoff over FSU because it was his final season. Wild times.
— TJ Pittinger (@TJ_Pittinger) February 7, 2024
FSU fans weren’t the first to come up with this theory. In fact, days before the College GameDay announcement, former UGA running back James Cook suggested that the committee was throwing Bama a bone having prior knowledge of Saban’s retirement.
Saban’s immediate shift to ESPN only fueled that speculation!
The Seminoles are still having trouble dealing with the exclusion from the playoff field after posting their best season in recent memory. And even if that quarterback injury was the real reason behind the omission, should uncontrollable circumstances overrule on-field results?
13-0 is better than 12-1 ten times out of ten, and even more-so given the ‘Noles spotless 2-0 record against SEC foes.
The CFP decision sparked a major domino effect in the state of Florida, leading to a lawsuit against the ACC and an attorney general investigation into the committee.
Still, nothing will change that final result – though it clearly won’t stop fans from trying!