Top College Football Analyst Takes Subtle Shot at Clemson Tigers

The Clemson Tigers were lumped into a conversation about the College Football Playoff and absorbed a jab from one of the game’s top commentators.

Kirk Herbstreit sits on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the College Football Playoff first round game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Tennessee Volunteers in Columbus on Dec. 21, 2024. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“Small little Clemsons” is probably not what Clemson Tigers fans were expecting from one of the game’s top college football analysts when he made an appearance on Andy and Ari, which is part of the On3 network.

Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman had ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit on their show earlier this week and much of the discussion was about the College Football Playoff, including a review of the recently concluded quarterfinals and the upcoming semifinals.

But that wasn’t all. The pair asked Herbstreit about the perception that he’s been stumping for more SEC teams in the playoff in the aftermath of a team like Alabama missing the CFP.

He said “Alabama had no shot” at making the playoff, saying the Crimson Tide’s loss to Oklahoma pretty much did them in.

He also said the semifinal teams — Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Penn State — were a final four that is about as good as it gets from a ratings standpoint.

Kirk Herbstreit pushes back on the narrative that he wanted Alabama in the College Football Playoff:

“Alabama had no shot. I don’t know how people thought I thought Alabama (was in), I was very clear leading up to it, how can you put Alabama in when they went and lost... got… pic.twitter.com/0wEXOS3eNj

— On3 (@On3sports) January 7, 2025

So, according to Herbstreit, ESPN is not trying to tip its finger on the scales of which teams get in the playoff.

But, he did say you could accuse ESPN of one thing — and in the process took what was probably an unintended shot at Clemson.

“If you’re going to accuse us of anything, you should accuse us of wanting Ohio State, wanting Notre Dame and these big brands,” he said. “If you knew anything about ratings, that’s who you want. You don’t want these small little Clemsons and small little southern schools when it comes to cheering for ratings. Ratings are big, massive, Big Ten brands. That’s where ratings are.”

Herbstreit played at Ohio State, a Big Ten school.

That’s a comment that is unlikely to make Tigers fans happy, considering they won the ACC and reached the expanded CFP in its first season of existence. Plus, Clemson is one of the most experience programs in the CFP format.

This year’s trip was the program’s seventh in the CFP, which is second only to Alabama. Under coach Dabo Swinney, the Tigers have won two national championships and have reached the championship game in two other trips.

Entering 2025, the Tigers have put together a stacked roster, with most of the key players from their ACC championship team that can return on their way back, including quarterback Cade Klubnik, who should be a Heisman contender next season.