Paul Finebaum discusses SEC 'hate' after CFP field announced

After it was announced that Alabama would make the College Football Playoff ahead of Florida State, there was a lot of backlash to the decision. Among the key points of backlash was the idea that the SEC got preferential treatment because of how it markets itself.

Paul Finebaum responded to that idea, dismissing it, on The Matt Barrie Show as the rankings were being revealed.

“I think what it comes down to, Matt, there are a lot of people that really do hate the SEC, and that’s fine,” Paul Finebaum said. “I get it. I live in that league and people think all we do is propagandize, but we don’t. Just go through the last 20 years of college football. I don’t think you need propaganda to prop that league up.”

Matt Barrie responded, explaining that the SEC does come across as arrogant or publicly confident, especially Commissioner Greg Sankey. Still, the committee easily could have stuck it to the SEC this season. Instead, they chose to put Alabama in with the logic that they were one of the four best teams in the country.

“Really, Matt, we’re doing this in real time but when you think about the most ridiculous thing that we’ve heard today, is that Georgia is the number six team in the country. I mean, that is beyond comprehension. They lost, what, a narrow game to Alabama, but that’s okay. Everybody’s had their say. I’m just glad that as Sunday turns to Monday, we don’t have to hear any more talking points because I’m sick of it,” Finebaum said.

“Yeah, what you said a minute ago is interesting about the SEC. Sometimes when you’re as close to the sun as I am, I work at the SEC Network headquarters, you can be blinded by the light a little bit, but just because you’re good doesn’t mean you should turn people off into wanting to see that school and I think that was a lot of it.”

Paul Finebaum tells Florida State leaders to ‘shut up already’ after CFP snub

Paul Finebaum is done hearing complaints from Florida State and its fans, as he explained on Get Up on Monday morning.

“They did get it right, and can we all just stop with the fake outrage from Florida State AD and the president. I get the coach, I get the players, but the rest of the people just need to shut up already. This is college football. It is not a perfect system. We have controversy every year. It helps fuel what makes the sport great, and for the coach to say, ‘It’s a sad day in college football.’ I saw people celebrating all over the place. I think we have an amazing game. Michigan and Alabama, please, Michigan was upset. They have to play Alabama,” Finebaum said.

“And let’s not forget, and Heather alluded to it, why is Alabama in this game? They beat Georgia. Remember Georgia? They were the number one team in the country all year. They were the two time defending champions going for a three-peat. That impressed the committee, and then the committee sat there and watched that travesty from the ACC Championship Game — not a travesty from the standpoint that Florida State doesn’t have an elite defense, they are, they’re fantastic. But they had no offense and they simply didn’t want to see another TCU disaster in one of the games coming up here at the end of the month.”