CFP Director ‘Livid’ About Leak of SMU Choice Over Alabama Earlier than Bracket Reveal

School Soccer Playoff director Wealthy Clark is not blissful there was a leak that spoiled the largest shock of this yr’s 12-team area.

Moments earlier than ESPN’s last choice present aired Sunday, Brett McMurphy of the Motion Community reported SMU was awarded the ultimate at-large bid within the CFP. That was notable as a result of the largest debate going into the present was whether or not the final spot would go to the Mustangs or Alabama.

“I used to be livid,” Clark stated Tuesday, per Matt Hayes of USA At present. “I instructed all concerned, you’ve got betrayed the method.”

Clark stated he realized of the leak when his son texted him proper earlier than the discharge.

“There are solely a sure quantity of people that know,” he stated. “I do know one factor, it wasn’t me. There’s the choice committee, ESPN and our workers. Somebody in that group (is the leak).”

Whereas the information was spoiled earlier than the present truly began, it did not quell the talk.

The largest argument from this yr’s area was whether or not a three-loss Alabama with a energy of schedule benefit and notable wins over Georgia and South Carolina to go together with ugly losses to Oklahoma and Vanderbilt would get in over two-loss SMU.

SMU managed its personal future going into Saturday’s ACC Championship Sport however misplaced in beautiful vogue when Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser drilled a 56-yard area aim as time expired. It was the Mustangs’ second three-point lack of the season, which stood in stark distinction to Alabama’s 24-3 loss to 6-6 Oklahoma.

Nonetheless, SMU additionally could not match the Crimson Tide’s victories and total energy of schedule.

The committee finally gave the nod to the Mustangs, which means they weren’t punished for enjoying in a convention title recreation when Alabama was sitting at dwelling with its three regular-season losses.

School soccer followers who have been being attentive to social media knew that was the path the committee went even earlier than ESPN’s present aired.