Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed that $1 million in state funds go toward a lawsuit against Florida State’s football team being left out of the College Football Playoff.
On Sunday, the CFP announced it awarded Alabama the fourth spot in the playoff in lieu of FSU, presumably due to strength of schedule and the loss of quarterback Jordan Travis, who broke his leg in November.
The 2024-25 budget, which was proposed on Tuesday and would still need to be approved by state legislators, did not specify what type of litigation would be pursued.
It’s unclear if FSU will use the money. An FSU spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether the school is considering a lawsuit.
“What we learned today is that you can go undefeated and win your conference championship game, but the College Football Playoff committee will ignore these results,” DeSantis tweeted following the CFP announcement on Sunday.
DeSantis isn’t the only Florida lawmaker upset about the decision.
Sen. Rick Scott sent a letter to the CFP asking for transparency and communications surrounding the decision. (As governor, Scott awarded the 2017 UCF Knights a football championship title after going undefeated.)
Multiple other lawmakers, including state senator and FSU football alum Corey Simon, also spoke out.
On Sunday, a source close to lawmakers told FOS that there was an appetite to consider legislation to protest the decision. Lawmakers were discussing a few different legislative options but had not announced a formal decision as of Tuesday afternoon.
