As college football fans across the country were awaiting to see how the 12-Team College Football Playoff was going to shake out, those on social media beat ESPN to the punch.
Action Network’s Brett McMurphy posted on X before the ESPN Selection Show aired that SMU was in the College Football Playoff, and Alabama was out. The post came down at 10:59 am CT, with the Selection Show starting at 11;00 a.m.
Here was the post.
It is believed this is the first leak in the 10 years of the College Football Playoff format.
McMurphy responded to this post with a shrug emoji.
When comparing the two, Alabama had the edge over SMU in a few categories — ranking higher than SMU in strength of record (No. 9; SMU was 15th) and ESPN FPI.
While Alabama has a victory over SEC champion Georgia 41-34 and two other Top 25 wins, the Crimson Tide have three losses, including two to .500 teams — 40-35 to Vanderbilt and an ugly 24-3 road loss to Oklahoma on Nov. 23.
SMU, meanwhile, has two losses by a combined six points to ACC champ Clemson and 10-2 BYU. While the Mustangs do not have a win over a team currently ranked in the Top 25, they do have a 5-2 record against teams over .500.
But now, the 12-Team College Football Playoff is set.
Here’s a look at the bracket.
Big 12 In the Playoff With Arizona State
The College Football Playoff committee set its 12-Team Playoff on Sunday and from the Big 12 Conference, the Arizona State Sun Devils were rewarded with the No. 4 seed.
The Sun Devils crushed Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship 45-19 on Saturday in Arlington, Texas, in their first season in the Big 12. In the preseason, the Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the conference, but led by star running back Cam Skattebo, Arizona State shocked all of college football this season.
The Big 12 Conference only got one team into the College Football Playoff due to the parity across the league that saw four teams finish 7-2 in a tie for first place in the conference. Arizona State and Iowa State reached the Big 12 Championship Game thanks to tiebreakers.
The No. 1 seed is Oregon, the No. 2 seed is Georgia and the No. 3 seed is Boise State.
Arizona State will play the winner of No. 5 Texas and No. 12 Clemson in the quarterfinals.
