As a top name at ESPN, there was the thought that Herbstreit was rooting for ratings rather than appreciating the seasons of Indiana or SMU.

In an appearance with On3Sports' Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman, ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit rejected what he interpreted as many fans' belief that he wanted Alabama in the College Football Playoff. The College GameDay host clearly described the Crimson Tide, stating the team had "no shot" to be in the CFP.

Kirk Herbstreit is reinvigorated by ESPN’s new “College GameDay” crew. During an interview with On3 this week, the longtime football broadcaster admitted that he believed when he struck a deal with Amazon “three years ago that [he] would probably have to give something up.

ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit has been a fixture for the network's college football coverage for nearly three decades. Herbstreit, who is ESPN's bona fide voice of college football, wears many hats these days.

The College Football Playoff semifinals begin Thursday with No. 6 seed Penn State taking on No. 7 Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. The second semifinal is Friday with No. 5 Texas battling No. 8 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Kirk Herbstreit has been making the rounds a lot lately for his takes on the College Football Playoff. All of the first-round games resulted in blowouts but he zeroed in on Indiana specifically after its 27-17 loss to Notre Dame.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstret wants to set the record straight. Much of the dialogue surrounding the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff has been around the résumés of non-powerhouse programs that earned a spot in the bracket over a few SEC blue bloods,