Kirk Herbstreit takes shot at section of college football fans over final College Football Rankings

The Cincinnati Bearcats made history on Sunday, being the first Group of Five team to make the College Football Playoff. Going undefeated on the season with a win against Notre Dame help Luke Fickell’s squad secure a date against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

With the narrative that a “smaller” program cannot get into the playoff officially debunked, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit is wondering what is next within college football. He jokingly asked if everybody who bought into the theory was okay and how he could not wait to see what they thought of next.

“After SEVEN years of bitching and complaining from a vocal minority that the CFP system is rigged and the ‘small guy’ will NEVER GET A CHANCE-haven’t heard much from ya last couple days,” Herbstreit said in a tweet. “Everything okay? What’s the next conspiracy theory?? Can’t wait! Cause that one is history.”

Herbstreit has been an advocate for the Bearcats to get in the playoffs ever since the initial College Football Playoff rankings were released. Now, something everybody thought was nearly impossible is now a reality. Cincinnati will have the chance to prove everybody wrong again against Alabama on Dec. 31 at AT&T Stadium in the Cotton Bowl.

ESPN’s Jesse Palmer lays out plan for Cincinnati against Alabama

ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer thinks Alabama drew a less than favorable matchup against Cincinnati. Although many may view it as the opposite, Palmer likes the way the Bearcats defensive scheme matches up with the Tide.

After discussing the dynamic play of Alabama receiver Jameson Williams and why it is pivotal the Bearcats slow him down (likely using talented cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner), the analyst explained how Cincinnati can win.

“But you can contain (Williams) and now all of a sudden there’s going to be other bodies in that Alabama locker room, maybe a Ja’Corey Brooks a true freshman that’s made a lot of plays here late in the season [or Slade] Bolden in the slot,” he said. “These guys are going to have to make more plays and step up for Bryce Young. But guys, I love this Cincinnati defense. Not just because of the X’s and O’s and the NFL talent but that scheme too. That 3-3-5 scheme is something that Bama sees a bit of it from Ole Miss and Arkansas. They don’t see a ton of it in the SEC. I think that’s a very stylistic, good matchup.”