The College Football Playoff selection committee had an impossible task on Sunday December 3. If you are a sports fan and you turned your TV on any sports station on Sunday, you heard the drama that was taking place.
The committee faced the dilemma of six teams who have exceptional stats— and only four spots available for the playoff. The committee was forced to leave out a very deserving team. Michigan and Washington both locked up playoff spots by going undefeated and winning their conference title games. So the only question was who would they choose to leave out? A Georgia team ranked No. 1 heading into Championship Week whose only loss came to No. 8 Alabama in the SEC title game?
A one-loss Alabama team who won the SEC?
A one-loss Texas team who won the Big 12 and defeated Alabama earlier in the year?
Or an undefeated Florida State team that didn’t look dominate while winning the ACC with a third-string quarterback?
In the end the committee chose to leave out Florida State in favor of Alabama, citing player health and recent performance of the two teams.
That wasn’t a good enough explanation for college football fans. People immediately lashed out. Florida State fans were up in arms as they felt like Florida State defied all odds to have a successful season, but was left in the dark. Hopefully this decision will not have to be made again. There will be a switch to a 12-team playoff in 2024-25. This should avoid a similar fate next year. But that’s little comfort to Florida State now as they are heartbroken over an opportunity that will have to wait until then.