Florida Lawmakers Consider Protesting Florida State CFP Omission

Florida lawmakers already have an appetite to propose state legislation to protest Florida State not making the College Football Playoff, a source close to lawmakers told Front Office Sports.

On Sunday, the CFP made the controversial decision to award Alabama the fourth slot in the postseason instead of the undefeated Seminoles. The decision was presumably made due to the strength of schedule considerations and the loss of FSU’s quarterback Jordan Travis, who broke his leg in a non-conference game against North Alabama on November 18.

But some lawmakers don’t appear to be accepting this explanation. It’s unclear what direction a bill could take — but legislators are currently discussing multiple options, the source said. 

At least three government officials in Florida have commented publicly so far criticizing the CFP’s selection process.

“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,” Florida Governor Ron Desantis said.

Former FSU and Philadelphia Eagles player Corey Simon, a Florida state senator, took his comments a step further, issuing an accusation of corruption at the CFP. He called for a lawsuit relating to the decision. 

The controversy comes less than a decade after the University of Central Florida was left out of the inaugural four-team playoff in 2017 despite going undefeated. The team awarded itself a national championship trophy anyway — endorsed by then-Florida governor Rick Scott. 

The state also has a rocky relationship and has been embroiled in litigation with Disney, which broadcasts the CFP on its ESPN network.