ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit Plays Victim Over Backlash From Florida State's Fanbase

Kirk Herbstreit responded to the backlash he's received following Florida State's snub from the playoffs.

The Florida State Seminoles entered conference championship weekend as the No. 4 team in the College Football Playoff rankings – good for a playoff spot. This was a week after defeating Florida on the road with their backup quarterback.

Still, the Seminoles were snubbed from the final playoff rankings – coming in at No. 5 – after taking care of business against Louisville in the ACC Championship.

This broke the news cycle, and one of the players at the front of the conversation was ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, who was adamant about leaving the Seminoles out of the playoffs. Naturally, Herbstreit caught flack from Florida State fans who were outraged after their favorite team was left out.

Florida State Star QB Jordan Travis Finishes 5th in Heisman Trophy Voting

This led to an eventual Herbstreit response

“I didn’t know I voted. I had an opinion,” Herbstreit said on the Pat McAfee Show. “Everybody has an opinion. It’s subjective. …A lot of people don’t understand the cluster. All these people that are upset, did they ever break down – when they get to a cluster of teams – this is what the committee is asked to follow. Have you ever heard that? When they b---h and complain. They don’t like facts. They don’t like information. They like conspiracy theories.”

The ”conspiracy theory” in question is fans believe ESPN wanted Alabama in over Florida State because of the company’s television deal with the Southeastern Conference.

Herbstreit is beginning to play the role in which he’s being unfairly attacked while pinning the “conspiracy theory” on Florida State fans holistically. Still, Herbstreit showed his support to Mike Norvell while claiming he was one of the few who backed him in the hiring process.

“I love him, I love him,” Herbstreit said of Norvell. “People were trying to hire Prime because they didn’t think Mike Norvell was the answer. I was the guy that was pumpin' up Mike Norvell, saying he is the answer, give him time to get this thing back up, and he’s been able to do that.”

While Herbstreit loves Norvell, he also stated that he hates it for the players and Norvell.

“I feel really bad for Mike Norvell and the players,” Herbstreit continued.

No matter what claims or statements Herbstreit makes, Florida State fans will always accompany him being at the forefront of the conversation after their favorite team – which went 13-0 as a Power Five school – got snubbed in the playoffs. 

---

READ MORE: Former Florida State Running Back Declares For 2024 NFL Draft

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the 2023 season.

Follow NoleGameday on Twitter and Facebook