Since Florida State won’t be able to make a case for the college football title on the field, some Florida lawmakers are looking to bring the Seminoles’ plight to the courts.
Several Florida politicians — including Gov. Ron DeSantis — criticized the College Football Playoff Selection Committee and the NCAA after Florida State became the first unbeaten conference champion of a Power 5 school to be left out of the playoffs.
But former Florida State player — and current Florida state senator — Corey Smith took the issue a step further and wrote Sunday on X, “The corruption of college football rears its ugly head again. ESPN and Disney have a vested interest in the SEC participating in the CFP. Lawsuits should be filed tomorrow.’’
And Senator Rick Scott added he was “infuriated” by the decision, adding, “I’ll be demanding the committee answer as to how this decision was made and what led to this outcome.”
Florida State found itself supplanted by once-beaten Alabama, which won the SEC championship with a win over top-ranked Georgia on Saturday, and Texas, as well as other undefeated conference champions Michigan and Washington, in the four-team playoff.
College Football Playoff selection committee chairman Boo Corrigan told ESPN following the controversial decision that the loss of star Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis to a season-ending injury was the key factor in the undefeated Seminoles being passed over.
“Florida State is a different team than it was the first 11 weeks [of the season],’’ Corrigan said. “As you look at who they are as a team right now without Jordan Travis, without the offensive dynamic he brings, they are a different team and the committee voted Alabama four and Florida State five.”
DeSantis and others were critical of the committee, with DeSantis writing on X: “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. Congratulations to @FSUFootball on an outstanding season and winning the ACC championship!”
Jared Moskowitz, a congressman from Florida, wrote on X: “I am circulating a letter and will be doing a resolution condemning @NCAAFootball @NCAA decision to leave @FSUFootball out of the playoffs. This decision is about TV money, a corrupt decision for college athletics.”
Another Republican congressman from Florida, Byron Donalds, called the committee “trash.”
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