Booger McFarland ‘will go to my grave’ defending Florida State; Dan Patrick says ACC not true Power 5

Booger McFarland ‘will go to my grave’ defending Florida State; Dan Patrick says ACC not true Power 5

Two days after Booger McFarland called Alabama advancing to the CFP “a travesty to the sport,” the ESPN analyst wasn’t done voicing his opinion on how the College Football Playoff committee got it wrong when it left Florida State out.

“We’re making judgements inside this room on what we think is going to happen on the field,” he told “The Dan Patrick Show” on Tuesday.

His point is that everyone he talked as well as Vegas books had Oregon beating Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game, and the Huskies won. The same was said about Tulane in the AAC, but SMU prevailed.

Patrick, however, explained the CFP final four is a show. It’s all about fan bases and interesting games.

“I don’t think the ACC is viewed as a true power conference,” he said. “I think it is the Big Ten and SEC. The Pac-12 is a better conference than the ACC. I think this was a reality check for the ACC of where they stand in college football. We may not like it.”

Patrick concedes unwritten rules of college football lead to undefeated teams playing for championships. “Well, if they have their starting quarterback, I certainly understand that,” Patrick added.

McFarland said schedule the marquee matchups for nonconference games.

“But when you start putting together a playoff, this is earned,” McFarland said. “I will go to my grave that Florida State (should be in).”

On Sunday, McFarland railed on the committee as soon as it was announced that Alabama was the No. 4 seed and will face No. 1 Michigan.

“To me, this is a travesty to the sport because we go out there and play the game,” McFarland said on the broadcast. “Regardless of whether it looks good at quarterback position. Regardless of whether we win with offense, whether we win with defense, the name of the game is to win. There’s a reason that this has never been done. A Power 5 conference going undefeated and not getting into the playoff.

“I understand we want to look at style points, and who are we going to get in the best matchups? That’s not what this is about. This is understanding getting the four best teams. One team has a lost, and that’s Alabama. One team doesn’t, and that’s Florida State. The fact that this committee could take a Power 5 Conference champion that’s undefeated … those kids went out there and busted their behind and not get into the playoff based on the eye test. Mind you, this is the same Alabama team who needed a prayer in Jordan-Hare to beat an Auburn team that lost to New Mexico State.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.