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Herbstreit and Saban Push for 16-Team Playoff Expansion

12/7/2025

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Herbstreit and Saban Advocate

Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN analyst, and Nick Saban, Alabama coach, urged expanding the College Football Playoff to 16 teams.
They cited Notre Dame's 10-2 exclusion as a key controversy driving the expansion.
Current bracket lists Indiana as top seed, with Alabama and Miami earning at-large bids.
They criticized the weekly CFP rankings show as confusing and not reflective of standings, arguing a 16-team format would better represent deserving teams.

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Committee Excludes Notre Dame

The College Football Playoff Committee excluded Notre Dame from the 12-team bracket despite its 10-2 record.
The committee prioritized Miami, which had a head-to-head win over Notre Dame, and Alabama despite their three losses.
Committee Chair Hunter Yurachek said Miami's Big 12 Championship performance influenced their selection over BYU and Notre Dame.
The decision sparked debate among fans and analysts and highlighted controversies surrounding playoff selections and potential reforms.

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Herbstreit and Saban Advocate

Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN analyst, and Nick Saban, Alabama coach, urged expanding the College Football Playoff to 16 teams.
They cited Notre Dame's 10-2 exclusion as a key controversy driving the expansion.
Current bracket lists Indiana as top seed, with Alabama and Miami earning at-large bids.
They criticized the weekly CFP rankings show as confusing and not reflective of standings, arguing a 16-team format would better represent deserving teams.

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