Florida lawmakers 'consider proposing state legislation' to protest FSU being left out of the CFP as Gov. Ron DeSantis slams committee's decision

Florida lawmakers will consider proposing state legislation to protest Florida State being left out of the College Football Playoffs, though the bill's stance is still unclear.

Legislators in the Sunshine State are 'discussing a few options', according to Front Office Sports. 

'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,' said Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate, Ron Desantis.

Former FSU and Philadelphia Eagles player Corey Simon, a Florida state senator, was more candid in his comments, accusing the CFP of being corrupt, as he called for a lawsuit relating to the choice made on the best four-ranked college football teams in America.

'The corruption of college football rears its ugly head again,' tweeted Simon. 'ESPN and Disney have a vested interest in the SEC participating in the CFP. Lawsuits should be filed tomorrow.'

The university's athletic director, Michael Alford, was furious about the team's snub, too, as he slammed the committee for 'failing college football.' 

No. 5 Florida State defeated No. 15 Louisville in the ACC Championship game, 16-6, on Saturday.  

The Seminoles will face two-time national champion Georgia in the Orange Bowl in the biggest showdown of the non-playoff New Year's Six bowl matchups. The game will be played on December 30 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Before the CFP grows to 12 next year - an expansion that was delayed by a year because of infighting among the conference commissioners who manage the postseason system - the selection committee faced the toughest decision in the 10-year history of the format.

'Florida State is a different team than they were through the first 11 weeks,' explained Boo Corrigan, the selection committee chairman who is also the athletic director at North Carolina State, Florida State's ACC rival. 

The Seminoles (13-0) lost star quarterback Jordan Travis to a season-ending injury two weeks ago, but continued their winning ways with a backup and then a third-string quarterback. 

'I am disgusted and infuriated with the committee's decision today to have what was earned on the field taken away because a small group of people decided they knew better than the results of the games. What is the point of playing games?' Florida State coach Mike Norvell said in reaction to his team's omission from the CFP.

He added: 'What happened today goes against everything that is true and right in college football. A team that overcame tremendous adversity and found a way to win doing whatever it took on the field was cheated today. It's a sad day for college football.' 

Travis is a sixth-year player whose development into one of the best quarterbacks in college football has fueled Florida State's resurgence over the last three years.

'Devastated. heartbroken,' Travis posted on the social media platform X. '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.'

The committee, though, is instructed to judge teams for what they are heading into the playoff and decided FSU without Travis isn't among the best four in the country. 

'To eliminate them from a chance to compete for a national championship is an unwarranted injustice that shows complete disregard and disrespect for their performance and accomplishments. It is unforgivable,' Alford said.

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, who was among conference leaders who helped slow down the expansion process by a year after the SEC's plan to add Texas and Oklahoma was revealed in 2021, called leaving out the 'Noles 'unfathomable.'

'Their exclusion calls into question the selection process and whether the committee's own guidelines were followed, including the significant importance of being an undefeated Power Five conference champion,' Phillips said.