The College Football Playoff selection committee had an impossible task on Sunday.
Faced with six teams who have exceptional resumes — and only four spots available for the playoff — the committee was forced to leave out a very deserving team. Michigan and Washington both locked up playoff spots by going undefeated and winning their conference title games. So the only question was who would they choose to scorn?
A Georgia team ranked No. 1 heading into Championship Week whose only loss came to No. 8 Alabama in the SEC title game?
A one-loss Alabama team who won the SEC?
A one-loss Texas team who won the Big 12 and defeated Alabama earlier in the year?
Or an undefeated Florida State team that didn’t look dominate while winning the ACC with a third-string quarterback?
In the end the committee chose to leave out Florida State in favor of Alabama, citing player health and recent performance of the two teams.
That wasn’t a good enough explanation for college football fans immediately lashed out. Fortunately, the switch to a 12-team playoff in 2024-25 should avoid a similar fate next year. But that’s little comfort to Florida State now.
#FSU AD Michael Alford sends a scorched-earth statement to the CFP Committee after the Seminoles' exclusion. Imagine we'll hear similarly from Mike Norvell shortly. pic.twitter.com/kOazn4TE9O
— Curt Weiler (@CurtMWeiler) December 3, 2023
