Kirk Herbstreit Blasts 'Idiots' Accusing ESPN of Bias

ESPN has often been accused of bias toward the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and it's a charge that can make some employees sensitive. Kirk Herbstreit, for one, has bristled at the accusation multiple times over the years.

On Monday's episode of his "Nonstop" podcast, Herbstreit once again addressed the pro-SEC allegations, firing off a NSFW-rant against the "idiots" who hurl them at ESPN.

Herbstreit doesn't hold back

One day ahead of the latest College Football Playoff rankings, the longtime ESPN commentator went scorched earth on the idea he and his colleagues carry water for the SEC.

"'Bama would be the fourth, potentially fifth team in these rankings for the SEC," Herbstreit said. "So, we’re not trying to — these idiots that say, “How much do people pay you to say this bulls--t?” F off! We’re talking about the sport. We’re talking about what we care about. I don’t give a s--t about the SEC. I give a s--t about, where are they going to come? How are they going to find these 12 teams? How are they going to split these hairs at 11, 12, 13, 14? It’s fascinating to me."

Herbstreit went on to say people misunderstand his analysis of individual teams and the SEC in general.

"I don’t really care who they put in. Put Miami in. I don’t care," he said. "I don’t care if you put six Group of 5 teams in. Do whatever you want to do. I’m just saying based on what the Sagarin ratings, the AP, the Coaches Poll, everybody recognizes the depth and the challenge of the SEC. You can hate that. You can make fun of that. Do whatever the hell you want with that. That’s the reality of the sport. That’s the reality of the world. You can live in fake world. Do whatever the f--k you want to do, as far as I’m concerned. But the reality is [in] this sport, we’re trying to get the best 12 teams in."

This is not the first time this month alone that Herbstreit has spoken out about the perception that ESPN is in the tank for the SEC.

It's clearly something that the veteran analyst is sick of hearing and talking about, but

“I get so tired of the bulls--. I just get so f-----g tired,” Herbstreit said. “These people talking about the SEC, how much they pay you — are you kidding me? I’ve been here for 30 years.”

Five SEC teams in latest top 12

The College Football Playoff committee unveiled their latest set of rankings last night, with five SEC teams landing in the top 12:

• No. 3 Texas A&M
• No. 4 Georgia
• No. 6 Ole Miss
• No. 8 Oklahoma
• No. 10 Alabama

If the season ended today, Texas A&M and Georgia would have byes into the quarterfinals, while Ole Miss would host the No. 11 seed, which at the moment is Miami, the highest-ranked ACC team.

No. 8 Oklahoma would host No. 9 Notre Dame, with 10th-ranked Alabama traveling to No. 7 Oregon. With two weeks of the regular season and conference championships still to play though, a lot can and will change.