On Sunday, we found out which teams made the College Football Playoff and which ones missed the cut, just after a report surfaced revealing that SMU was in and Alabama was out. While the identity of the source remains unclear, the man in charge of the selection process is determined to find out.
The 2024 season marks the first time the College Football Playoff will feature 12 teams. If you thought the expanded field would reduce the drama around who deserved a spot, you may have only recently started following college football.
One of the biggest debates was whether Alabama, with a 9-3 record, could still make the postseason over a non-SEC team with more wins but a weaker strength of schedule.
We were supposed to learn the playoff selections shortly after the College Football Playoff show began at noon on Sunday.
However, just a minute before the broadcast started, Brett McMurphy, an insider from The Action Network, leaked the news that SMU was still in the running despite their loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, while Alabama was left out.
This was the first time in the College Football Playoff’s history that a reporter spoiled the reveal, and according to USA Today, director Rich Clark wasn’t happy about it.
Clark, who replaced Bill Hancock as the CFP’s executive director last November, spoke to the outlet on Tuesday and expressed his anger. He said he immediately began trying to find the source of the leak, adding, “I was furious. I told everyone involved, ‘You’ve betrayed the process.’”
Clark clarified that only a select few knew the details. “I know one thing, it wasn’t me. It’s the selection committee, ESPN, and our staff. Someone from that group is responsible.”
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