Video: Nick Saban Says He Got 1,000 Phone Calls When Alabama Made CFP over FSU

Retired former Alabama head coach and new College Gameday analyst Nick Saban said Saturday morning that he took heat when Florida State missed out on the College Football Playoffs last season despite being undefeated.

"I just want Kirk [Herbstreit] to know, I got a thousand phone calls when we got the Playoff. He didn't have anything to do with them not getting in the Playoff, and I didn't either, but we both got hammered," he said. "I'm glad we got in, and they probably should have gotten in too, but at least we won't have that situation this year."

The CFB Committee found themselves in an impossible position last offseason, with six viable contenders four the four playoff berths. Undefeated Michigan got in without drama, leaving the undefeated Seminoles, a trio of one-loss major conference champions in Washington, Texas and Alabama and a Georgia team that spent most of its season at No. 1 but suffered its lone loss against the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game.

Ultimately, the committee left out Florida State—which was without quarterback Jordan Travis and had floundered offensively down the stretch, despite remaining undefeated—and Georgia. Alabama lost an overtime thriller against Michigan in the CFP semifinals, and the Wolverines went on to win the title.

This year, the format will expand to 12 teams, hopefully avoiding the sort of mess that left a pair of deserving teams out of the dance.