Kirk Herbstreit, a prominent ESPN “College GameDay” analyst, found himself embroiled in a fiery exchange on social media after congratulating Michigan on their victory over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday. The Wolverines secured a hard-fought 19-13 win, and Herbstreit took to X (formerly Twitter) to acknowledge their success, writing:
“Congrats @UMichFootball on a big win!! Huge for them and the @bigten.”
However, the post didn’t sit well with one user, who accused Herbstreit of favoring Alabama and advocating for their inclusion in the 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket. The user replied with a meme of WWE star Jimmy Uso laughing, implying Herbstreit’s comments were insincere.
Herbstreit Claps Back
Herbstreit didn’t hold back, responding sharply: “Keep believing the false narratives, clown.”
The exchange didn’t end there. Another user sarcastically congratulated Herbstreit and his colleague Desmond Howard for correctly predicting the ReliaQuest Bowl outcome. Herbstreit, clearly frustrated, fired back:
“Wait a second. Why let facts get in the way of a bulls—t narrative! Haha!!”
Defending His Stance
Herbstreit made it clear he believes the notion that he pushed for Alabama’s inclusion in the playoffs as a three-loss team is a baseless narrative. He pointed to his previous comments about playoff team selection, emphasizing the importance of evaluating the “best teams” rather than simply the most deserving based on records.
During an appearance on SportsCenter after Indiana’s 27-17 loss to Notre Dame in the first round of the CFP, Herbstreit criticized the committee for allowing Indiana into the playoffs. “Indiana was outclassed in that game,” Herbstreit said. “It was not a team that should have been on that field when you consider other teams that could have been there. We need to find the best teams, not just those with inflated win totals.”
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A History of Defending Alabama
Despite dismissing recent accusations, Herbstreit has previously defended Alabama in contentious playoff debates. Last December, he stirred controversy by supporting Alabama’s selection over then-undefeated Florida State for the final spot in the four-team CFP.
“This is not the same team without Jordan Travis,” Herbstreit said at the time, referencing the Seminoles’ quarterback, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury. “It’s not personal. It’s about evaluating Alabama versus Florida State and determining who is the better team right now — and that’s why Bama should’ve and did get the edge.”
The decision marked the first time an undefeated Power Five team was excluded from the CFP, leading to widespread debate. Herbstreit argued that Alabama’s strength of schedule and overall team performance outweighed Florida State’s perfect record.
A Polarizing Figure in CFP Debates
Herbstreit’s outspoken nature and willingness to weigh in on controversial playoff decisions have made him a polarizing figure among college football fans. His comments about Alabama, both past and present, often ignite heated discussions on social media.
While Herbstreit has repeatedly stated there is “no agenda” behind his analyses, his recent social media exchange highlights the scrutiny and backlash that come with being one of college football’s most prominent voices.
For Herbstreit, defending his opinions is part of the job — and he’s not afraid to call out critics when he feels they’ve misrepresented his views.
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