Politicians in the Sunshine State are bashing the College Football Playoff committee’s decision to exclude the undefeated Florida State Seminoles from the four-team playoff on Sunday.
The Seminoles were ranked fifth in the final standings after winning the Atlantic Coast Conference and going undefeated, behind Alabama, who went 12-1 and won the Southeastern Conference. The unprecedented decision to exclude an undefeated Power Five conference champion from the playoff was met with fierce backlash.
GAVIN NEWSOM MOVES TOWARD THE MIDDLE AS WHITE HOUSE RUMORS PERSIST
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) slammed the decision as “trash,” explaining why the Seminoles should have been ranked ahead of Texas and Alabama, who both made the playoff.
The CFP committee is trash!
1. @FSUFootball is undefeated.
2. FSU won the conference championship with a 3rd string QB.
3. Texas was never ranked ahead of FSU all year.
4. FSU didn’t need a hailmary to survive rivalry week, like Alabama did. Plus we won with the 2nd string QB!— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) December 3, 2023
“The CFP committee is trash! 1. [FSU] is undefeated. 2. FSU won the conference championship with a 3rd string QB. 3. Texas was never ranked ahead of FSU all year. 4. FSU didn’t need a hailmary to survive rivalry week, like Alabama did. Plus we won with the 2nd string QB!” Donalds posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) said he would circulate a letter to condemn the committee’s decision to exclude Florida State from the playoff and called the rankings a “corrupt decision for college athletics” that was made for television ratings.
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. https://t.co/laQ2K3hWau
— Jared Moskowitz 🟧 (@JaredEMoskowitz) December 3, 2023
“I am circulating a letter and will be doing a resolution condemning [the NCAA’s] decision to leave [Florida State] out of the playoffs. This decision is about TV money, a corrupt decision for college athletics,” he posted on X.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) decried the committee’s decision as “illogical” and said he will be “demanding the committee answer” for its decision.
Like millions of college football fans, I was infuriated by the illogical decision to rob @FSUFootball of the chance to play in the @CFBPlayoff.
I’ll be demanding the committee answer as to how this decision was made and what led to this outcome.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 3, 2023
“Like millions of college football fans, I was infuriated by the illogical decision to rob [Florida State] of the chance to play in the [College Football Playoff]. I’ll be demanding the committee answer as to how this decision was made and what led to this outcome,” he posted on X.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis demanded a “full explanation” on why Florida State had a “championship opportunity ripped away by corrupt bureaucrats.”
Shameful decision by the @CFBPlayoff Committee. I DEMAND a full explanation. 👇 pic.twitter.com/h7xadQl0ge
— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) December 3, 2023
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) claimed the committee ignored the results and congratulated Florida State on an “outstanding season” despite being snubbed from the playoff.
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!
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) December 3, 2023
“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 [Florida State] on an outstanding season and winning the ACC championship!” DeSantis said.
Former President Donald Trump, who changed his residency to Florida in 2019, also slammed the decision and said that the Seminoles were “treated very badly.”
“Florida State was treated very badly by the ‘Committee.’ They become the first Power Five team to be left out of the College Football Playoffs. Really bad lobbying effort … Lets blame DeSanctimonious!!!”
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The College Football Playoff is moving to a 12-team playoff in 2024, with a set formula giving automatic bids to the top four conference champions. The four-team playoff began with the 2014 season and has seen several controversial selections in its decade of work.
Florida State will play the Georgia Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.
