Nick Saban, wearing a red tie and blazer, made a passionate argument on ESPN around the potential consequences to leaving Alabama, a school that still pays him a half-million annually, out of this year's 12-team College Football Playoff field.

SMU lost to Clemson on a walk-off 56-yard field goal in the ACC championship game to secure the Mustangs' second loss of the season. Alabama had three losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma and missed an opportunity to play for an SEC championship.

Alabama football won’t be included in the College Football Playoff this year. The CFP committee made the Crimson Tide the first team outside of the 12-team field, so essentially the 13th team. SMU got the final spot over the Crimson Tide after losing the ACC title game on a last second field goal.