After Florida State University (FSU) was left out of the College Football Playoff despite being an undefeated conference champion, more prominent politicians including Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, and former President Donald Trump (R) are crying foul.
In some instances, they are taking shots (quite hilariously) at other politicians because of it.
For example, President Trump said that FSU was “treated very badly” by the Committee while also blaming Florida Governor and presidential candidate, Ron DeSantis (R-FL).
Trump weighs in on FSU being left out of CFP pic.twitter.com/dS6eysR8kG
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) December 4, 2023
“Florida State was treated very badly by the ‘Committee.’ They became the first Power Five team to be left out of the College Football Playoffs. Really bad lobbying effort…Lets [sic] blame DeSanctimonious!!!” said President Trump.
Furthermore, in a press release, Sen. Scott demanded answers from the College Football Playoff Committee Chair, Boo Corrigan for the unprecedented decision, including that Mr. Corrigan provide “full transparency from the Committee regarding how this decision was reached and what factors may have been at play in reaching this outcome.”
Moreover, Sen. Scott sent a letter to Mr. Corrigan in which he stated that the “shocking” decision has “rightly raised questions among millions of Americans.”
🚨 BREAKING: I am demanding answers and transparency from the @CFBPlayoff Selection Committee following its unprecedented exclusion of @FSUFootball from the playoffs.
Read my letter to Chairman Boo Corrigan ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/D554J82c4S
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 4, 2023
“The Committee’s decision to drop the 13-0 Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles from its previous 4th-place ranking, and thereby exclude the team from the upcoming playoffs altogether, mere hours after they won the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship game has rightly raised questions among millions of Americans about the integrity of the process employed by this 13-member body, which consists of just five (38%) individuals with relevant experience in coaching or playing football at the collegiate level or higher,” said Scott.
He continued, calling out the Committee’s inconsistent rankings as a reason for raising the alarm.
“While I understand that the Committee considered the tragic, season-ending injury to FSU quarterback Jordan Travis, I am confused as to why this was not a factor in the previous week’s rankings. One week ago, the Committee chose to rank FSU as the 4th-best team in the nation, moving them up from fifth place following the road-game win in Gainesville against the University of Florida Gators. As you know, this win occurred after Mr. Travis’s injury. It’s difficult to understand how FSU’s next win, over the 14th-ranked University of Louisville Cardinals, would reflect poorly on the team and result in a ranking drop and exclusion from the College Football Playoffs,” Scott said.
In his conclusion, the Florida senator demanded that the Committee disclose the decisions (rankings) made by each member, as well as any emails, text messages, “or any other written communication exchanged between the members” regarding the Committee’s decision, including messages sent to and from individuals affiliated with the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Finally, Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis said that he is considering “additional action.”
Any @CFBPlayoff committee member that wishes to come forward to disclose their votes should do so NOW. I’m in conversations with legislators on additional action. Playoff committee members should take steps to preserve all documents. @FSUFootball #FlaPol
— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) December 4, 2023
Any CFB (College Football) Playoff Committee member that wishes to come forward to disclose their votes should do so NOW. I’m in conversations with legislators on additional action. Playoff committee members should take steps to preserve all documents,” said Patronis.
It is unlikely that any action from the State of Florida or any of its elected officials at any level could change the decision of the selection committee’s decision.
However, earlier this year, elected officials in North Carolina threatened anti-trust lawsuits against the NCAA for not allowing UNC wide receiver Tez Walker to play after transferring to Chapel Hill. He was immediately granted eligibility once lawsuits were threatened.
Patronis threatened a lawsuit as FSU faced a very similar situation with Darrell Jackson Jr that UNC and the State of North Carolina faced with Tez Walker. Nothing came of it.
This is a developing story.
