Jordan Travis’ leg injury kept Florida State out of the College Football Playoff and after the undefeated Seminoles were snubbed, the star quarterback said he wished he’d suffered the injury earlier so people “could see this team is much more than the quarterback.”
Despite winning the ACC, Florida State became the first unbeaten Power 5 conference winner to not be given a chance to compete for the national title under the playoff system, which was introduced in 2014.
And Travis’ season-ending leg injury that occurred on Nov. 18 against North Alabama was the main reason that’s the case.
“Devastated,’’ Travis wrote on X on Sunday. “Heartbroken. In so much disbelief [right now], I wish my leg broke earlier in the season so y’all could see this team is much more than the quarterback. I thought results matter. 13-0 and this roster matches up across any team in those top 4 rankings. I am so sorry. Go Noles!”
Even with a win at Florida with backup Tate Rodemaker at QB and then a victory over Louisville on Saturday in the ACC title game with freshman Brock Glenn under center, the committee selected Michigan, the undefeated Big Ten champion and Washington, the unbeaten Pac-12 champion, as well as Big 12 champion Texas and Alabama, the SEC champions, despite both Texas and Alabama having suffered a loss during the season.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips called Florida State’s omission from the playoffs “unfathomable.”
FSU athletic director Michael Alford said that the committee “failed college football.”
And Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell, who said he was “disgusted and infuriated” with the decision, added, “What is the point of playing games?”
Florida State had been ranked No. 4 in the final regular-season CFP rankings, but both Texas and Alabama jumped them after the Longhorns defeated Oklahoma State to win the Big 12 and Alabama beat No. 1 Georgia in the SEC title game.
CFP selection committee chairman Boo Corrigan told ESPN after the selections that “Florida State is a different team than it was the first 11 weeks. As you look at who they are as a team right now without Jordan Travis, without the offensive dynamic he brings, they are a different team and the committee voted Alabama four and Florida State five.”