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
Florida State reacting to missing out on the #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/K0SwbkLwZm
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 3, 2023
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) December 3, 2023
the college football playoff committee killing the acc by making florida state even more mad is a fun way to end this stupid year
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) December 3, 2023
Florida State right now #CollegeFootballPlayoff pic.twitter.com/nZugBHsd3I
— Mylon I. Boston (@BostonSZN) December 3, 2023
UCF fans looking across the state at FSU pic.twitter.com/GDhOGzetar
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 3, 2023
— Marc Torrence (@marctorrence) December 3, 2023
we now go to a live shot of me as undefeated florida state got screwed out of the playoff pic.twitter.com/dN9k1Fp30Z
— jesse spector (@jessespector) December 3, 2023
Outrageous, arrogant, and an absolute disgrace. In the final year of the system, it proved it didn’t work. #FSU #CFP
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) December 3, 2023
The committee watched the undefeated 2014 FSU team play in the Rose Bowl and decided “Yeah, we’re not doing that again.” pic.twitter.com/vq63O3ITrk
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 3, 2023
FSU is coming up with the money to leave the ACC within the next hour
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 3, 2023
Booger McFarland is not happy that Alabama got into the CFP over an undefeated Florida State team.
"To me, this is a travesty to the sport…One team has a loss, and that's Alabama. One doesn't in Florida State." pic.twitter.com/3rhBvvpT1D
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 3, 2023
The CFB committee putting in Alabama over FSU. Business decision pic.twitter.com/tbvlDdYh4C
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) December 3, 2023
The CFP selection committee decided to screw Florida State.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 3, 2023
This is the biggest Florida win of the Napier era https://t.co/ZlPD9TvrJ8
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) December 3, 2023
FSU fans today 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/aXrazo8NBu
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) December 3, 2023
GOING UNDEFEATED NO LONGER MATTERS !!!!! If you’re in the SEC, the @CFBPlayoff will spot you 1-2 games and allow you to lose to get in if they have to. Everybody else must go undefeated and win their conference and even then you STILL MIGHT NOT GET IN!!! Just ask FSU. ROBBERY!!! https://t.co/sEzA0WuJEQ
— Su’a (@iammsuzy) December 3, 2023
“The committee needs to let FSU in!”
The committee: pic.twitter.com/CeQu7ttaOM
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) December 3, 2023
Florida State held a CFP selection show watch party at its stadium.
I cannot imagine the scene.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 3, 2023
FSU right nowpic.twitter.com/V0Soir51Aa
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 3, 2023
The college football committee to Florida State pic.twitter.com/sVelUtFe4A
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) December 3, 2023