Florida State got snubbed by the College Football Playoff committee.
There’s no way around it. However you feel about the strength of the four teams the committee decided are worthy of playing for a national title, it’s impossible to argue FSU didn’t also deserve a spot.
Never before had an undefeated Power Five conference champion been left out of the playoff until Sunday, when the committee tried its best to justify putting one-loss SEC champion Alabama in field over Florida State.
In the immediate aftermath, we’ve seen all five stages grief play out. College fans went ballistic on social media. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips and FSU athletic director Michael Alford went even further in excoriating the committee.
Then there was Jordan Travis, a Heisman Trophy contender at quarterback all year long for Florida State until gruesome leg injury that ended his season three weeks ago. Travis sat next to FSU head coach Mike Norvell as the playoff field was announced and looked speechless upon finding out Florida State wouldn’t get a shot at the national title.
Florida State reacting to missing out on the #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/K0SwbkLwZm
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 3, 2023
As he tried to process the moment, Travis posted one of the most gut-wrenching messages you’ll read all year and college fans just wanted to give him a giant hug.
devastated. heartbroken. In so much disbelief rn, I wish my leg broke earlier in the season so y’all could see this team is much more than the quarterback. I thought results matter. 13-0 and this roster matches up across any team in those top 4 rankings. I am so sorry. Go Noles!
— Jordan Travis (@jordantrav13) December 3, 2023
I understand this is someone processing a disappointment in real time but it is gutting that Jordan Travis is made to feel that this is in any way his fault. https://t.co/KQ6q8TPIII
— Richard🇬🇾Johnson (human) (@RJ_cfb) December 3, 2023
We've got a QB apologizing for suffering a devastating leg injury. https://t.co/XU88xHIjdU
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 3, 2023
The footage of FSU's reaction is just heartbreaking. Jordan Travis right there in the center. Imagine being him, your team got left out bc you got injured.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 3, 2023
that this system got a young man saying “i wish my leg broke earlier” is so damn sad, man.
i can’t wait for jordan to go on to have the best career https://t.co/SgAkPmRkll
— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) December 3, 2023
having a beloved star athlete apologize that his gruesome injury didn’t happen earlier in the season is a really really dark place to be, i think we can all agree on that. https://t.co/gk94s6UI0A
— Zach Soskin (@ZSoskin) December 3, 2023
Possibly the saddest thing I’ve read this week. Congratulations @CFBPlayoff you’ve literally made a student athlete wish he broke his leg earlier. https://t.co/6GLvby3cqW
— Lauren J in the BigXII (@thespinzone) December 3, 2023
Jordan Travis: "I wish my leg broke earlier in the season so y’all could see this team is much more than the quarterback."
Travis also apologizes for breaking his leg.
Regardless of how exciting this field is, how do you not feel for him and FSU after reading this? https://t.co/ZNFtIhsIiZ
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) December 3, 2023
