Nick Saban, wearing a red tie and blazer, made a passionate argument on ESPN around the potential consequences to leaving Alabama, a school that still pays him a half-million annually, out of this year's 12-team College Football Playoff field.

Alabama football won’t be included in the College Football Playoff this year. The CFP committee made the Crimson Tide the first team outside of the 12-team field, so essentially the 13th team. SMU got the final spot over the Crimson Tide after losing the ACC title game on a last second field goal.

The College Football Playoff won't include the Alabama Crimson Tide. For just the third time since the initial playoff model began with four teams in 2014, Alabama will be heading to a postseason bowl game outside of the CFP.