The final year of the existing four-team College Football Playoff format promises to be one of the most intense yet.
On Sunday, the teams selected for the playoff were announced, with Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama securing spots. A notable omission was Florida State, marking the first time an undefeated power conference champion was left out of the field.
Speculations about Florida State’s exclusion proved accurate, particularly after the team lost star quarterback Jordan Travis to a serious leg injury last month. Boo Corrigan, the chair of the College Football Playoff committee and also the athletic director at Florida State’s ACC rival North Carolina State, justified the decision on ESPN, stating, “Florida State is a different team than they were the first 11 weeks. If you look at who they are as a team right now, without Jordan Travis, without the offensive dynamic that he brings to it, they are a different team. And the committee voted Alabama four and Florida State five.”
In response, Florida State coach Mike Norvell expressed dissatisfaction, claiming his team was unfairly treated. “I am disgusted and infuriated with the committee’s decision today to have what was earned on the field taken away because a small group of people decided they knew better than the results of the games. What is the point of playing games?” Norvell said in a statement.
Travis, devastated by the outcome, expressed his frustration on social media, stating, “I wish my leg broke earlier in the season so y’all could see this team is much more than the quarterback.”
Team selection for the playoff is based on polls, computerized rankings, strength of schedule, head-to-head competition, championships won, and the “unavailability of key players.” Alabama, following its Southeastern Conference championship game victory over Georgia, secured the fourth spot, pushing Florida State to fifth, despite its 13-0 record and ACC title win over Louisville.
Michigan also voiced displeasure, knowing it would face Alabama in the upcoming playoff. Videos shared on social media captured groans from the Wolverines when Alabama’s inclusion was announced.
University of Michigan will play against the University of Alabama at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on January 1, while the University of Washington will face the University of Texas-Austin Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The winners of these games will compete for the national championship in Houston on January 8.
Anticipated changes in 2024 might bring less drama, as the College Football Playoff is set to expand from a four-team to a 12-team tournament.
