After Florida State University (FSU) was left out of the College Football Playoff (CFP) despite being an undefeated conference champion, State of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R-FL) has officially sent a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to the (CFP) Selection Committee.
There are worries that ESPN (which owns the rights to the programming of the CFP in its entirety – the official rankings release show and all three playoff games) chose Alabama over Florida State because it would result in better ratings.
Because of this, AG Moody’s CID comes from her Antitrust Division and calls for “all communications” to or from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and ESPN, and all 10 conferences in FBS football, as well as the compensation of Committee members.
I’m a lifelong Gator, but I’m also the Florida Attorney General, and I know injustice when I see it. That is why we are fighting for the #Unconquered @FSUFootball team and demanding answers from the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.
In Florida, merit matters. If it’s… pic.twitter.com/DFlh7mmLWD
— AG Ashley Moody (@AGAshleyMoody) December 12, 2023
Moody even put aside her loyalty to the University of Florida as she stated, “I’m a lifelong Gator, but I’m also the Florida Attorney General, and I know injustice when I see it. No rational person or college football fan can look at this situation and not question the result. The NCAA, conferences, and the College Football Playoff Committee are subject to antitrust laws.”
She continued, accusing the Committee of the inability to judge teams fairly.
“My Office is launching an investigation to examine if the Committee was involved in any anticompetitive conduct. As it stands, the Committee’s decision reeks of partiality, so we are demanding answers—not only for FSU, but for all schools, teams and fans of college football,” said Moody. “In Florida, merit matters. If it’s attention they were looking for, the Committee certainly has our attention now.”
The Florida Attorney General concluded, “It is estimated that FSU’s omission into the CFP will cost the school and the ACC millions of dollars.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has also pressed the Committee for answers. He invited AG Moody’s efforts on social media.
Good! For more than a week, the @CFBPlayoff Selection Committee has been hiding & evading my demands for transparency after excluding #FSU. I welcome @AGAshleyMoody’s efforts to force accountability. https://t.co/buzk3X6AW7
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 12, 2023
“Good! For more than a week, the CFB Playoff Selection Committee has been hiding & evading my demands for transparency after excluding FSU. I welcome AG Ashley Moody’s efforts to enforce accountability,” said Sen. Scott.
The former Florida governor also released shirts for sale that say, “FSU GOT ROBBED.” The proceeds go toward Scott’s reelection campaign. They cost $36.99 per shirt.
Do you think FSU was robbed?
Get your shirt today!!!!https://t.co/jhzHwIty28
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) December 12, 2023
FSU will play the University of Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida on Dec. 30.
