The Problem with Kirk Herbstreit’s “Poll”

Kirk Herbstreit released his top-four last night. Now, I know his poll doesn’t matter in the long run, but here is the problem I have with his thinking.

ESPN College Football Analyst Kirk Herbstreit released his top-four last night on twitter. He knew there would be an explosion at the teams he chose and what his line of thinking was. Here is his tweet and rankings.

Last night, when I got on twitter and saw who he had in his rankings, I was not shocked, I was not startled and here’s why: It’s the same narrative we have heard for years and years. Now, Herbstreit did decide to preface his rankings with “First, relax..deep breath..it will work itself out.” Why did he have to preface them with that? Because he has Alabama (a one-loss SEC team and LSU an undefeated SEC team in his poll) with undefeated Clemson, TCU, Utah, and Florida State on the outside looking in.

Now, I know it work itself out. I know that if Clemson takes care of its business and wins out, the Tigers will be in the College Football Playoff, but guess what: IF Clemson loses, they’re done, but the same is not true for a SEC team.

The purpose of Kirk Herbstreit’s tweet was to push the overused and tired narrative that we have heard for years and years: “A one-loss SEC team deserves to be in over an undefeated ACC team.”

There is not one argument in the world in which Alabama should be ranked ahead of Clemson IN ANY POLL OR RANKINGS. At this point, the Crimson Tide shouldn’t be ahead of TCU or Utah or Michigan State for that matter. Why? THEY LOST.

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There isn’t any valid explanation for why you would put both LSU and Alabama in your top-four, except if you trying to push an agenda of SEC Bias. He’s already setting up the idea that if LSU and Alabama both finish 11-1, they should both be in the College Football Playoff.

I don’t care about the “eye test,” Alabama lost. What does that mean? You lose your right to control your destiny. Not only did Alabama lose, they lost to Ole Miss, who lost to Memphis, but they’re in the Kirk Herbstreit top-four.

Here is the “reasoning” I always hear. Alabama played a terrible game and turned the ball over five times. That is why they lost to Ole Miss. Well, guess what, they beat Texas A&M because the Aggies turned the ball over four times (to Alabama’s one fumble), but according to analysts, this was just Alabama’s defense playing well. You watch these interceptions and tell me whether it was Alabama’s defense or Kyle Allen with bad throws or decisions

Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’m not saying The Crimson Tide are not a good football team, what I am saying is it is ridiculous to even say they are in the top-four ahead of undefeated teams like Clemson, Utah, Michigan State, or even Florida State. I don’t have a problem with Baylor, LSU, or even Ohio State being in his top-four because they have not lost.

However, there is no argument you can make without showing SEC Bias that would put Alabama in the top-four as of right now and I, personally, am sick of it. Yes, there are some great teams in the SEC, but stop with this tireless narrative that a one or two loss SEC team should be considered over another undefeated team.

Let’s take a look at the undefeated teams in Power Five Conferences (sorry Memphis and company):

ACC– Clemson, Florida State

SEC– LSU

PAC 12– Utah

BIG 10– Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa

BIG 12– Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State

These are the teams that should still control their destiny. If any of these teams finish their season undefeated, they should be in. They shouldn’t have to worry about an Alabama team sneaking back up in the rankings and getting in (and that even goes for Iowa).

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Alabama had their chance and they lost. Now, they have to wait. They should never be in your top-four until these teams above begin losing. At the end of the season, the Crimson Tide could be back in the top-four, but it is completely ridiculous and ludicrous to put them in this early after a loss when all these other teams are still undefeated.

Yes, it will work itself out, but for now teams like Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Florida, and Stanford should be on the outside looking in, but for some reason I have a feeling that the Crimson Tide, the Aggies, and the Gators will get the benefit of the doubt.

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Maybe I’m off-base, maybe there’s something I haven’t considered, I’d encourage you to comment below and give me a great argument for why Alabama should be ranking in the top-four, but in my opinion, this ESPN’s way of going ahead and putting the old narrative out there through the form of Kirk Herbstreit’s poll so that should something happen, the South Eastern Conference still has a chance to get one, if not two, teams in the College Football Playoff.