Paul Finebaum evaluates the committee's decisions to fill CFP field

The College Football Playoff committee made the controversial decision to award Alabama the No. 4 seed in the playoff and leave an unbeaten Florida State team out.

Some analysts have voiced their displeasure with the decision by the CFP committee, but ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum believes there’s no doubt the committee made the right choice.

“This was fairly easy to see, I think. I think they did well. I think they looked at it – and these guys don’t want to admit it – because they’re not transparent and we can’t see their ballots. But someone got in there and said, ‘Are we really going to leave Alabama out? And have the entire world come down on us?’” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “And I think being college administrators mostly, and being collegial… they settled. And by the way, they settled correctly.”

On the surface, it’s easy to argue that Florida State has a better resume. The Seminoles went unbeaten, including earning a pair of wins over SEC teams in LSU and Florida.

Alabama finished 12-1, beating Georgia in the SEC Championship Game but also losing to Texas at home and needing a miracle to beat Auburn. Alabama also struggled with USF and Arkansas early in the season.

Florida State very well could have been the choice for the No. 4 spot, but star quarterback Jordan Travis got hurt late in the season. That injury factored into the committee going with Alabama.

Now Alabama will face Michigan in the first round, while Texas and Washington will meet in the other College Football Playoff semifinal.

As Paul Finebaum pointed out, it’s entirely possible that two programs that will be in the SEC in 2024 in Alabama and Texas will end up playing for the national title.

“What’s so ironic, and living in the SEC world… all of these people that talked about the SEC not being in, I mean you could have Alabama in there against the newest member of the SEC, and that will make heads explode,” Finebaum said. “But again, the only two years of this playoff there was any drama was Year 1 and Year now. And maybe a tinge one year when Ohio State got in and Alabama got in.”

No. 1 seed Michigan and No. 4 seed Alabama will meet in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. Michigan is currently a 1.5-point favorite over the Crimson Tide, according to FanDuel. The over/under for the matchup is currently at 46.5 points. Now that Alabama is in the playoff over Florida State, there’s no doubt that the Crimson Tide can compete with anyone.