Paul Finebaum weighs in on whether Alabama will make the College Football Playoff
By David Wasson
Published:
ESPN college football pundit Paul Finebaum took to the airwaves Sunday to discuss whether Alabama had the bona fides to earn one of the coveted at-large berths in the College Football Playoff field that will be released later in the day (noon ET, ESPN).
Hashing it out on The Matt Barrie Show, Finebaum said he believes the 10-3 Crimson Tide will get into the CFP grid despite a disappointing 28-7 loss to Georgia in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game.
“I do (believe Alabama is in). And by the way, I mean, I joked last week on an interview that I would call for a federal investigation if they aren’t,” Finebaum said. “I’m not doing that anymore, Matt. I think they’re a very close call, but I think reasonable people appreciate the whole body of work, which is what this is supposed to be about.”
Barrie pointed out that SEC teams like Vanderbilt and Texas aren’t a part of the conversation due to conference title victories by James Madison (Sun Belt) and Tulane (American) – meaning the Dukes and Green Wave get automatic berths. He then asked if Finebaum believes the CFP committee agrees with the SEC Network host’s assessment that Alabama should be in the CFP.
“I do. I have no reason,” Finebaum said. “I have no inside information other than knowing how they think they don’t want to have to face the Greg Sankeys of the world at the next meeting, which will probably be Monday afternoon in Vegas, whenever college football world gets together again and have to deal with that because these are just one-offs and collectively, they’re part of the apparatus of college football.”
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
