SNUBBED: FSU football falls short of College Football Playoff qualification, ranks No. 5
After going 13-0 and winning its first ACC Championship since 2014, Florida State (13-0, 8-0 ACC) was not included in the four-team College Football Playoff announced Sunday.
FSU, at No. 5, became the first Power 5 team in the history of the CFP to go undefeated and win a conference title and not make the playoff.
The Seminoles are expected to play in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami against No. 6 Georgia.
The final rankings were: No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 Washington, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 FSU and No. 6 Georgia.
FSU, No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington are the only three teams in the country still undefeated. On Saturday, the Seminoles narrowly defeated No. 15 Louisville, 16-6, to win the ACC Championship and its 19th straight game.
Ohio State (2022) and Texas Christian (2022) are the only two teams to qualify for the College Football Playoff who didn't win their conference championships.
The Seminoles have eight wins over bowl-eligible teams this season and won a conference championship with true freshman third-string quarterback Brock Glenn.
FSU was angered by the playoff snub.
"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," FSU coach Mike Norvell said in a statement.
"What is the point of playing games? Do you tell players it is okay to quit if someone goes down? Do you not play a senior on Senior Day for fear of injury?"
Without quarterback Jordan Travis, who suffered a season-ending left leg injury against North Alabama, FSU was still able to defeat Florida on the road and Louisville in the ACC Championship.
FSU VP Director of Athletics Michael Alford also released a statement following the final rankings, unloading on the committee.
"The consequences of giving in to a narrative of the moment are destructive, far-reaching, and permanent," Alford said. "Not just for Florida State, but college football as a whole.
“The argument of whether a team is the 'most deserving OR best' is a false equivalence. It renders the season up to yesterday irrelevant and significantly damages the legitimacy of the College Football Playoff. The 2023 Florida State Seminoles are the epitome of a total TEAM."
"To eliminate them from a chance to compete for a national championship is an unwarranted injustice that shows complete disregard and disrespect for their performance and accomplishments. It is unforgivable."
College Football Playoff committee chair and NC State Athletic Director Boo Corrigan spoke following the final rankings and explained why Alabama was ranked over FSU.
"Florida State is a different team than they were through the first 11 weeks," Corrigan said. "Coach Norvell, their players, their fans, had an incredible season, but as 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."
"The committee voted Alabama four and Florida State five."
FSU qualified for the College Football Playoff semifinals once as it competed in the first playoff in 2014, losing to No. 2 Oregon, 59-20, in the Rose Bowl.
This is also the last year of the four-team playoff as it'll expand to 12 teams in 2024.
FSU was ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll and No. 3 in the US LBM Coaches Poll released Sunday.
Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU ranks 5, fails to qualify in final College Football Playoff rankings
