Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold was excited when the College Football Playoff committee announced the Crimson Tide as the No. 4 team in the final rankings on Sunday afternoon.
The Crimson Tide knocked off then-No. 1 Georgia in the SEC championship game on Saturday, which served as the CFP committee’s ultimate decision to place Alabama (12–1) above undefeated No. 5 Florida State (13–0) in the final rankings.
Although Arnold is thrilled about the chance to compete for a national championship, the Tallahassee, Fla., native is good friends with Seminoles star quarterback Jordan Travis and wide receiver Keon Coleman.
During an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show on Monday, Arnold said he felt “some type of way” about FSU being snubbed from the top four teams.
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“ …I feel like it’s just one of those things where even me talking to Jordan Travis, I just got done talking to Keon Coleman … It makes it something that you want to go out there and play for,” Arnold said on the show. “Even them not being able to get in, I’m going to go out there and play for my guys, play for Bama nation but even play for them, too–being from Tallahassee.”
Arnold, who nearly attended FSU prior to choosing Alabama, said he would have been upset if he was part of the Seminoles’ program on Sunday.
“Ultimately like, I would’ve just been looking like… the [Jordan Travis] injury that happened, we wouldn’t be having this same conversation if it didn’t take place,” Arnold said.
Despite Travis’s season-ending leg injury in the Seminoles’ game against North Alabama, FSU remained undefeated and captured the ACC title on Saturday with a win against Louisville. However, CFP chair Boo Corrigan said FSU was a “different team through the first 11 weeks” prior to Travis’s injury, which served as a reason why the Crimson Tide earned the CFP nod.
Alabama will face No. 1 Michigan (13–0) in the Rose Bowl at 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 1 while FSU will take the field against Georgia (12–1) in the Orange Bowl at 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 30.
