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Someone Tell Rick Scott That FSU Not Making It Into the College Football Playoff Isn't a Scandal

Matt Vespa
Matt Vespa  |  December 20, 2023 10:00 AM

Earlier this month, the College Football Playoff was established. The four best teams the committee felt should vie for the national championship were selected, and there was bedlam in Tallahassee, Florida: the undefeated Florida State University Seminoles were left out.  

Seminole fans went apoplectic, and for good reason. The news made way for a historic footnote in the program’s history, albeit not the one anyone wanted: it’s the first time an undefeated Power Five conference team was snubbed.  

I’m not a fan of Booger McFarland, but he made a good point about why this decision was unfair. I also get that this is a business, and FSU would have very well been stomped on, like how Georgia led a complete demolition of Texas Christian University in last year’s championship game; the Horned Frogs got throttled by the Bulldogs 65-7. 

FSU’s final games were marked by exemplary defensive play with the loss of their star quarterback, Jordan Travis. If Travis were healthy, then this would be a different conversation. For now, Michigan, Alabama, Texas, and Washington are invited to the big dance, with the fireworks beginning on New Year’s Day. Yet, for some, they’re not considering whether Michigan can pull off an upset against Alabama or the line in the Texas-Washington game. Some folks want to investigate the committee’s selection process, which extends into the U.S. Senate. Republican Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) wants answers (via Sports Illustrated): 


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Earlier in December, U.S. Senator Rick Scott (Fla.) wrote the executive director of the playoff committee, Bill Hancock, for clarity on the decision and was met with reasons detailed during the playoff selection show on ESPN. However, Senator Scott expressed his dissatisfaction in a letter on Monday. 

"Dear Mr. Hancock, I appreciate your response on Friday, December 15, to my letter dated Monday, December 4, regarding the unprecedented exclusion of the 13-0, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles from the College Football Playoff (CFP). Unfortunately, your response failed to answer all 10 of the questions I posed in my initial letter," Senator Scott's letter read. 

The letter continued to detail the economic impact delivered by Florida State's exclusion and reiterated Senator Scott's original request. 

"To provide needed transparency and restore confidence in your organization, I again request that you immediately respond to this letter with the following information: 

 The "listing step" and "ranking step" votes of each member of the Selection Committee for the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023. 

Any notes, recordings, or reports detailing the deliberations of the CFP Selection Committee in deciding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023.

Any emails, text messages, or other written communication exchanged between the members of the Selection Committee regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023. 

Any emails, text messages, or other written communication exchanged between members of the Selection Committee and CFP company officers, Board of Managers and / or Management Committee regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023. 

Any emails, text messages, or other written communication exchanged between members of the Selection Committee and individuals affiliated with ESPN regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 

Any emails, text messages, or other written communication exchanged between members of the Selection Committee and individuals affiliated with the Southeastern Conference (SEC) regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023. 

Any emails, text messages, or other written communication exchanged between members of the Selection Committee and any individual(s) not affiliated with the CFP regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023. 

The statistical data and game video for the Seminoles reviewed by members of the Selection Committee during the deliberation process. 

Any documentation of recusals granted to Committee members for the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023. The CFP ethical and conflict of interest standards." 

Is it disappointing for the players for FSU? Absolutely. Coach Mike Norvell was blunt about the committee's decision not to include the Seminoles in this year’s playoff. Days later, he says the team is still taking the news hard. All that considered, this isn’t a scandal. There was no collusion to keep FSU out. Again, if Travis was healthy and FSU was still left out, the case is more substantial that something is amiss. Alas, that wasn’t the case. The playoff is expanding to a 12-team format next season. Norvell has rebuilt this program, which was in a miserable state a few years ago. If Norvell can maintain this level of success, FSU will be in the playoff next year, which may not be much comfort now, but this isn’t something to hold HUAC-like hearings about.