Since the College Football Playoff committee announced Alabama – and not Florida State – as a participant in the CFP, the sports-talking world has more opinions on the matter than the transfer portal has quarterbacks these days.

Florida Senator Rick Scott and other state politicians are demanding answers as to why the Seminoles have been left out. Donald Trump made his 2 cents known, saying the committee got it wrong.

On Monday, SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum and CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins went on the offensive against the anti-Alabama talk. Collins, a self-proclaimed Alabama fans, pointed to Alabama’s strength of schedule and that the committee made it clear that injuries (such as the one to Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis) could and did impact the decision.

Finebaum, on the other hand, said Florida State proponents only have an argument if the committee was tasked with naming the most deserving the teams. But that isn’t what they are tasked with.

“In my mind, we should have the four best teams in America playing in the most important event,” Finebaum told Collins on “The Source.” “And Florida State is not one of them.”

Georgia’s brutal 65-7 assault of TCU in the CFP last year weighed on the committee’s mind, too, Finebaum contends.

“In the back of the committee’s mind, they didn’t want that to happen again,” he said.”

The 12-team format could have started this year, Collins reminded viewers. Finebaum added The Alliance of ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, former Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff is the reason it didn’t happen.

“People want to use accusations like Alabama got in because Nick Saban and Alabama got preferential treatment,” Finebaum said. “I even heard that on CNN last night. That is absurd. That is absolutely absurd. Alabama beat the No. 1 team in the country in the biggest game of the year: The SEC Championship Game. OK, they have a loss. We’re all aware of that. They lost to Texas on Sept. 9. Where did Texas land? The No. 3 team in America.

“That’s the best loss of anybody under consideration and it’s easily the best win.”

Check out the full interview here.

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.