re: Why was Kirby pleading to get into playoff?

Because they had a legitimate argument to be one of the 4 teams selected. They were ranked #1 and only lost by 3 points at a neutral site, against the #8 team (that also happens to be Saban's Alabama).

They'd won 29 straight games and the last two championships, they kinda earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to how much that one 3-point game should've dropped them down in the rankings.

I thought that if the SEC got only one team in, it would've been UGA over Bama since Alabama lost to Texas, had the horrible game at USF, barely beat 4-8 Arkansas at home, and needed a miracle to beat .500 Auburn. UGA struggled a little more than they have the last 2 seasons, but didn't struggle like THAT.

UGA has a legitimate argument as to why they should still be in the top 4. I don't think Texas does, as UGA's lone loss is a much better loss than UT's lone loss. But if they wanted to put the SEC champions into the playoffs no matter what, then because it's Alabama they had to also put the one team that beat Alabama