DeSantis rips College Football Playoff committee for Florida State University snub
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted the College Football Playoff selection committee for leaving the Florida State Seminoles out of the college football playoff.
“What we learned today is that you can go undefeated and win your conference championship game, but the College Football Playoff committee will ignore these results,” DeSantis said over the weekend.
“Congratulations to @FSUFootball on an outstanding season and winning the ACC championship,” the governor continued.
Florida State University finished the regular season 13-0 and defeated the Louisville Cardinals in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Saturday. The Seminoles are the first undefeated Power 5 conference champion to be excluded from the field.
Instead of Florida State, the committee selected Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama for the college football playoff. Winners of each semifinal game will compete for the national championship on Jan. 8, 2024.
“Florida State is a different team than they were the first 11 weeks,” CFB committee chair Boo Corrigan said. “If you look at who they are as a team right now, without Jordan Travis, without the offensive dynamic that he brings to it, they are a different team.”
The ACC’s Player of the Year, Travis suffered a season-ending leg injury against North Alabama In November. The quarterback threw for 2,755 yards and 20 touchdowns to two interceptions while adding seven rushing touchdowns before getting hurt.
With Travis out, Florida State started backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker against rival Florida. After suffering a concussion against the Gators, the Seminoles turned to third string quarterback Brock Glenn, who started against the Cardinals Saturday.
According to the committee, teams are selected to make the college football playoff on the following criteria.
- Championships won
- Strength of schedule
- Head-to-head competition (if it occurred)
- Comparative outcomes of common opponents (without incenting margin of victory)
Under its principles, “unavailability of key players” also is listed. The factor, according to guidelines, may affect a “team’s performance during the season or likely will affect its postseason performance.”
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., criticized the decision to keep the Seminoles out of the college football playoff. Donalds graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Florida State in 2002.
“The CFB committee is trash!,” said Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds. “1. @FSUFootball is undefeated. 2. FSU won the conference championship with a 3rd string QB. 3. Texas was never ranked ahead of FSU all year. 4. FSU didn’t need a hail mary to survive rivalry week, like Alabama did. Plus we won with the 2nd string QB!”
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., also condemned the decision. Located near Tallahassee, home to Florida State, Gaetz’s 1st Congressional District covers Florida’s western Panhandle.
“Defense wins championships. But they can’t get you into the playoffs? What a BS snub of the Noles,” Gaetz said.
Florida State Head Coach Mike Norvell also issued a statement following the committee’s choice.
“I am disgusted and infuriated with the committee’s decision today to have what was earned on the field taken away because a small group of people decided they knew better than the results of the games,” Norvell said. “What is the point of playing games?”
Beginning next season, the College Football Playoff committee selection process is moved to a 12-team format. Initially No. 4, Florida Stated moved down to No. 5 in the rankings, leaving them out of the final spot.
