Florida State's elimination from the 2024 College Football Playoff (CFP) sparked controversy, especially after the Program put up a remarkable season. Here's why the Seminoles were left out and why their exclusion caused quite the commotion.
Dropped From the Playoff Pool
With a powerful 13-0 record, the Florida State Seminoles found themselves off the radar during playoff discussions. Gerry DiNardo, a college football analyst, expressed his disbelief at Florida State's exclusion, given their impressive season.
The controversy arose due to Florida State's absence amidst the Michigan Wolverines, Washington Huskies, Texas Longhorns, and Alabama Crimson Tide, which were causing excitement for all the wrong reasons.
"Today's decision by the Committee harms the credibility of the College Football Playoffs as an institution for many," said Florida State Athletic Director Michael Alford.
Here's everything you need to know about why the Seminoles were excluded and why this decision caused such a ruckus.
Cut from the Roster
Florida State had an exceptional season in 2024. The Seminoles were the third team in their Program's history to start with a 13-0 record. However, their last two victories were without their star quarterback, Jordan Travis, who broke his leg in the State Game and could not continue.
Tate Rodemaker, their backup quarterback, stepped up and helped the team defeat Florida State in Gainesville, but he suffered a head injury during the game and couldn't play in the ACC Championship against Louisville. Brock Glenn, the third-string quarterback, filled in admirably, helping the Seminoles secure a 16-6 win against Louisville.
While undefeated, Florida State's performance wasn't enough to convince the Playoff Committee, leading them to choose Alabama instead. With this decision, Alabama will compete in the College Football Playoffs for the eighth time, more than any other team.
Florida State was the first unbeaten team from a major Power-5 Conference since its inception in 2014 to be omitted from the Playoffs.
Bo Corrigan, the College Football Playoff Committee Chair, explained the reasons for excluding Florida State on ESPN.
"Florida State is a different team than it was in the first eleven weeks," Corrigan said. "An extraordinary season, but if you look at what they are as a team, they are a different team without Jordan Travis and the offensive energy he brings."
The decision to leave the Seminoles out was based on several factors, as per the College Football Playoff Selection Committee protocols. The Committee, consisting of sport directors, former trainers, and players, evaluates teams based on their on-field performance and considers factors such as matchups against conference champions, the strength of their schedule, head-to-head competition, and common opponents.
Missed Opportunity
Despite an exceptional campaign, the Seminoles were left on the sidelines, leading many to question the fairness of the selection process.
CNN's Cari Champion argued that the decision in favor of Alabama was primarily driven by TV ratings.
"I'm honest with you, this Committee in a room in Grapevine, Texas, chose based only on merit." Champion said on CNN this Monday to Bobby Harlow and Phil Mattingly.
"It's not the most deserving team, they feel they'll look better on TV without Jordan, they'll get less viewership," Champion continued. "Honestly, I think they chose Alabama because Alabama is a powerhouse. The SEC Conference, where they play, is arguably the best in College Football, with Nick Saban as their coach also."
The controversy divided opinions, with some believing that Alabama was the better-suited team for the title fight, while others felt that Florida State had been unfairly snubbed.
"There's no right answer for the College Football Playoff selection committee," Dan Wolken, a columnist for USA Today, said. "There's no wrong answer. But it's a certain answer. And that certain answer is Alabama."
"The College Football Playoff's decision to exclude Florida State over Alabama, which cost the Seminoles a spot in the Orange Bowl and pitted Alabama against Michigan in the January 1st semifinal, could lead to a series of thrilling matchups, culminating in what could be the most exciting New Year's Day in the history of sports."
"The committee has missed the mark"
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee's decision to choose Alabama as the Vice-champion, placing Florida at Number 5, has sparked fury.
CNN sought comment on the decision, but they have not yet replied.
The exclusion of the Seminoles was met with harsh criticism, particularly from Jordan Travis himself, who tweeted his disappointment with the choice, stating he wished to show that this team had more depth than just their quarterback.
"I think it's terrible how they have removed us from the playoffs when our record is comparable to the other top 4 teams," Alford said in a statement.
"The fact that they are still dominating against our current quarterback situation should strengthen our arguments for a playoff spot instead of they did today, deciding to improve and write history, and ultimately betraying the size of the sport by excluding the first major five conference champion since the BCS/CFP era began in 1995."
Norvell echoed Alford's sentiments, calling the decision "outrageous and indefensible."
"What's the point of playing a game if players like Jordan Travis have to leave the game due to injury? Should we stop playing Senior Day because we are afraid of an injury? Why should we play challenging out of conference matches if they think the game is over once a key player is injured?" Norvell wondered.
Texan linebacker Jaylan Ford told reporters he sympathized with Florida State.
"They put in the same work as we did the whole year," Ford said. "They worked hard. They're still players. They still have a plan."
In the upcoming semifinals on January 1st:
- The top-ranked Michigan Wolverines (13-0) take on the two-time defending champion Georgia Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl, Pasadena, CA.
- The second-ranked Washington Huskies (13-0) face the third-ranked Texas Longhorns (12-1) in the Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, LA.
Further Reading
This article explains why the Florida State Seminoles didn't make it to the 2024 College Football Playoff, despite being undefeated and putting up a strong season. The controversy surrounding their exclusion was a hot topic, with many questioning the fairness and transparency of the selection process.
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Enrichment Data
Florida State was excluded from the 2024 College Football Playoff (CFP) despite having a strong regular season, primarily due to the new 12-team format and the committee's evaluation of their overall body of work. Here are the key reasons and controversies surrounding this decision:
- Strength of Schedule: The CFP selection committee evaluates teams based on their strength of schedule. Florida State's schedule was not considered strong enough to justify their inclusion over other teams, particularly those from the Power Five conferences.
- Committee's Justification: The committee chair, Warde Manuel, explained that while Florida State had a good record, the committee looked at the entire body of work for all teams. They noted that SMU, which was selected for the final at-large spot, had a more impressive performance in the ACC championship game compared to Alabama, another strong SEC team.
- Power Five Dominance: The controversy also stems from the fact that five of the seven at-large spots went to teams from the two biggest, most influential conferences (SEC and ACC). This raised questions about the fairness and inclusivity of the selection process, as it seemed to favor teams from these conferences over others.
- Public Perception: The exclusion of Florida State was seen as a significant upset by many fans and analysts, leading to discussions about the potential biases in the selection process. However, the committee's decisions were ultimately justified by their criteria and the performances of other teams.
In summary, Florida State's exclusion was primarily due to their strength of schedule and the committee's evaluation of their overall performance compared to other teams. The controversy surrounding this decision highlighted the complexities and potential biases in the CFP selection process.
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