Danny Kanell calls out Nick Saban for 'gaslighting' over Florida State 2023 College Football Playoff snub
With Florida State playing a standalone game on Saturday to begin the 2024 college football season, last year’s College Football Playoff decision was once again a popular topic. Seminole fans have not been happy with ESPN (specifically Kirk Herbstreit) over the past seven-plus months. Having former Alabama head coach Nick Saban on set did not help too much either.
Saban did address the subject on Saturday morning, saying he nor Herbstreit had any influence on Florida State being left out of the CFP. Boos did rain down from the pro-Florida State crowd standing behind them just a few moments ahead of the game against Georgia Tech in Dublin.
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“I got 1,000 phone calls when we got into the Playoff,” Saban said on ESPN College GameDay. “[Kirk Herbstreit] didn’t have anything to do with them not getting into the Playoff and I didn’t either. But we both got hammered… I’m glad we got in. They probably should have gotten in too. At least we don’t have that situation this year.”
Danny Kanell of CBS Sports was not having any of what Saban said on national television. He called out the newly hired analyst, alongside Herbstreit for “gaslighting” Florida State fans on the topic, suggesting they maybe run for some kind of public office.
“Lol. These two should run for office with this type of gaslighting,” Kanell said via X.
Florida State being left out directly benefitted Saban, allowing Alabama to compete for the national championship. After defeating Georgia in the SEC Championship, the CFP committee decided to jump the Crimson Tide from No. 8 in the country and into the four-team event.
Michigan was able to beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl, a game that wound up being Saban’s last in the sport before retiring. He now gets to talk in front of the country on a weekly basis while sitting next to Herbstreit and Pat McAfee.
Instead of heading West to Pasadena to play the eventual national champions, Florida State traveled down to Miami to play Georgia in the Orange Bowl. Everyone in Tallahassee felt as if they should have been participating in the College Football Playoff after finishing the season undefeated and with an ACC Championship.