The CFP Committee got it right in leaving out FSU

Florida State football was left out of the College Football Playoff, despite an undefeated record and an ACC Championship. Here’s why the committee made the right decision.

Since Florida State football quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury against North Alabama, the Seminoles have played two complete football games.

In a crowded field of playoff contenders, and with key injuries listed as one of the considerations the committee can take into account, Mike Norvell’s team had to be absolutely convincing in those two games.

They weren’t.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Seminoles were downright bad in their last 120 minutes of football.

Against Florida, Florida State football gained just 224 yards of offense. They averaged 2.9 yards per carry. Tate Rodemaker finished with a QBR of 43.8.

Saturday, against Louisville, they were even worse. The Seminoles picked up just 2.6 yards per pass. They were 2 of 16 on third down. Brock Glenn finished the game 8 of 21 for 55 yards.

In the two games that Florida State had to be dominant, they were anything but. This offense was not going to put up a fight against the defenses of Alabama or Michigan. They were not going to keep pace with the offenses of Washington or Texas.

The Jordan Travis-led Seminoles would have been a lock for the Playoff. They absolutely would have competed with Washington, Texas, or Michigan. Led by Rodemaker, or Glenn, Florida State didn’t stand a chance. They were destined for a snoozer with Michigan in the first semifinal game.

CFP executive director Bill Hancock said earlier this week that “most deserving” is not what the committee is meant to determine, but they are simply tasked with selecting the “four best teams”.

Florida State football deserves to be rewarded for their 2023 efforts. Their season makes for a great movie.

However, as cinematic as college football can be, determining the Playoff field is not an exercise in moralism. If it was, UCF would have gotten into the 2017 field. Ohio State wouldn’t have made the inaugural field.

The committee made the right decision on Sunday. Everyone isn’t going to agree with it, and accusations of SEC bias will fly, but this was the correct choice.

Without Travis, Florida State is, without a doubt, not one of the nation’s four best teams.