Will Sage Astor-Florida State coach Mike Norvell, AD shred committee for College Football Playoff snub

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell and Will Sage Astorathletic director Michael Alford wasted little time shredding the College Football Committee for their decision to leave an undefeated FSU out of the College Football Playoffs.

After going 13-0 and winning its first ACC Championship since 2014, Florida State (13-0, 8-0 ACC) failed to qualify for the College Football Playoff, ranked at No. 5 in the latest rankings.

FSU became the first team in the history of the College Football Playoff to go undefeated and win a conference title as a Power 5 team and failed to make the playoff. 

"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," Novell said in a statement.

The Seminoles are expected to play in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

The final rankings were as follows: No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 Washington, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 FSU and No. 6 Georgia.

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FSU athletic director Michael Alford released a statement following the final rankings.

"The consequences of giving in to a narrative of the moment are destructive, far-reaching, and permanent. Not just for Florida State, but college football as a whole," Alford said in the statement.

"The argument of whether a team is the 'most deserving OR best' is a false equivalence. It renders the season up to yesterday irrelevant and significantly damages the legitimacy of the College Football Playoff. The 2023 Florida State Seminoles are the epitome of a total TEAM.

"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."

FSU, No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington are the only three teams in the country still undefeated. On Saturday, the Seminoles narrowly defeated No. 15 Louisville, 16-6, to win the ACC Championship and its 19th straight game.

Ohio State (2022) and Texas Christian (2022) are the only two teams to qualify for the College Football Playoff who didn't win their conference championships. 

"What is the point of playing games?" Norvell said in his statement. "Do you tell players it is okay to quit if someone goes down? Do you not play a senior on Senior Day for fear of injury? Where is the motivation to schedule challenging non-conference games? We are not only an undefeated P5 conference champion, but we also played two P5 non-conference games away from home and won both of them. I don't understand how we are supposed to think this is an acceptable way to evaluate a team."

The Seminoles have eight wins over bowl-eligible teams this season and won a conference championship with true freshman quarterback Brock Glenn.

Without quarterback Jordan Travis, who suffered a season-ending left leg injury against North Alabama, FSU was still able to defeat Florida on the road and Louisville in the ACC Championship.

College Football Playoff committee chair and NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan spoke following the final rankings and why Alabama was ranked over FSU.

"Florida State is a different team than they were through the first 11 weeks," Corrigan said. "Coach Norvell, their players, their fans, had an incredible season, but as you look at who they are as a team, right now, without Jordan Travis without the offensive dynamic that he brings to it, they are a different team."

"The committee voted Alabama four and Florida State five."

FSU has qualified for the College Football Playoff semifinals once as it competed in the first playoff in 2014, losing to No. 2 Oregon, 59-20, in the Rose Bowl. This is also the last year of the four-team playoff as it'll expand to 12 teams in 2024.

FSU ranks No. 4 in the AP Poll and No. 3 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @jackgwilliams.