with Alabama's win I would guess the audience for the finals just shrunk

I'm not sure why you think that, mcfarm.

Here we go.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2023-12-03/2023-24-college-football-bowl-game-schedule-scores-tv-channels-times

College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama
Pasadena, California
5 p.m. | ESPN

College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Sugar Bowl
No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas
New Orleans, Louisiana
8:45 p.m. | ESPN

Texas will be the one that people have the biggest problem with. Maybe they wanted a team from that conference in?

They did beat Alabama early in the season and both of them have the same, 1 loss record. But they almost lost 3 other games.

FSU (and GA) will be very unhappy!

https://www.google.com/search?q=who+did+tx+football+lose+to+in+2023&sca_esv=587494963&sxsrf=AM9HkKnVBf57ViLc9XfVw8FGtYHUKymSDQ%3A1701627518965&source=hp&ei=fsZsZbvSOKbcptQPuMSVqAU&iflsig=AO6bgOgAAAAAZWzUjpHV1IsxZsb5TFqUpXOXjFy3cVar&ved=0ahUKEwi7ibm-8POCAxUmrokEHThiBVUQ4dUDCAw&uact=5&oq=who+did+tx+football+lose+to+in+2023&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IiN3aG8gZGlkIHR4IGZvb3RiYWxsIGxvc2UgdG8gaW4gMjAyMzIGEAAYAxgNMgsQABiABBiKBRiGAzILEAAYgAQYigUYhgNIz21QAFjabHAHeACQAQCYAaABoAG6I6oBBTExLjMxuAEDyAEA-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-wHCAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQLhgWGB4Y8QQYCsICFBAuGBYYHhjxBBjHARjRAxjUAhgKwgIFECEYoAHCAggQABgWGB4YCsICCxAAGBYYHhjxBBgKwgIIEAAYAxgNGArCAgcQABiABBgN&sclient=gws-wiz#sie=t;/m/0118b5s5;6;/m/012hfxch;mt;fp;1;;;

only because I  keep hearing "I hate it that Alabama won and is in again"

Thanks, I didn't appreciate the extent of that until you pointed it out, mcfarm!

Texas Longhorns and Alabama Crimson Tide Rank As Two Most Hated Teams Of Future SEC

The Nick Saban coaching tree is not well-liked among college football fans.

• Kevin Borba
• Nov 3, 2023 8:55 PM EDT

https://www.si.com/college/texas/football/texas-longhorns-alabama-crimson-tide-rank-two-most-hated-sec-teams-future

+++++++++

This one is over a decade old:

10 Reasons People Hate the Alabama Crimson Tide

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/375636-10-reasons-people-hate-the-alabamacrimson-tide

Here's a more positive take on the state:

10 Alabama Stereotypes That Are Completely Accurate

FSU is rightfully,  really ticked off but they did it because the star quarterback is out for the season.

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/03/1216866882/florida-state-cfp-ncaa-playoff-alabama-seminoles