As Alabama football gears up for a rematch against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff, former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III has raised concerns about what he sees as “SEC bias” in the selection process. Griffin’s comments come amid speculation surrounding head coach Kalen DeBoer’s potential departure to Michigan, creating a tense atmosphere for the program.
In a recent interview, Griffin pointed to specific discrepancies in the selection criteria, highlighting that Miami defeated Notre Dame in a head-to-head matchup this season. He expressed frustration that Miami was overlooked, while Alabama secured a playoff spot despite its struggles. “Anyone that has paid attention to the season knows that Miami beat Notre Dame in a head-to-head matchup,” Griffin stated. “But the process that happened that ended up leaving Notre Dame out, putting Miami in, and leaving BYU out while keeping Alabama in—there’s so much uncertainty with the College Football Playoff selection process.”
His critique is particularly pointed given that Alabama is the first team to enter the playoff with three losses. The Crimson Tide’s season included an early loss to Florida State and a narrow defeat to Oklahoma at home, ultimately compounded by a heavy loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship, where they fell 28-7.
In contrast, teams like BYU and Notre Dame have fewer losses but were denied a chance at playoff contention. BYU lost twice this season, both to Texas Tech—29-7 in the regular season and 34-7 in the Big 12 Championship. Notre Dame, also with a pair of losses to Miami and Texas A&M, rebounded with ten consecutive victories.
Griffin remarked on the perception of bias within the selection committee, sharing insights from his attendance at seminars focused on the selection process. “The only way you do that is if there’s SEC bias with the committee,” he asserted. He advocated for a more balanced approach, suggesting the committee could have either punished both Alabama and BYU or considered both deserving of inclusion based on their conference championship game appearances.
While Alabama’s playoff inclusion has ignited debate among fans and analysts alike, Griffin’s argument reflects broader concerns surrounding the perceived inequities in college football’s selection process. Contenders like Notre Dame and BYU offered robust cases for consideration, and many question whether the SEC’s influence over the committee played a role in Alabama’s playoff berth.
As the Crimson Tide prepares for their playoff matchup, the implications of Griffin’s comments echo a growing discourse on fairness and transparency within the College Football Playoff selection framework.
