Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the College Football Playoff committee on Tuesday and said he is asking for $1 million in the state budget to allow Florida State to sue the committee over its decision to exclude the team from the playoffs.
DeSantis discussed the decision at a news conference related to his spending proposal, which calls for a $114.4 billion budget for Florida. DeSantis said his children are Seminoles fans and were unhappy with FSU’s exclusion from the playoffs.
“My first grader, my fifth grader and my preschooler… they’re all ‘noles’ and they’re big fans and they do the hatchet chop and they weren’t happy,” DeSantis said. according to the associated press. “We’re going to set aside a million dollars and let the chips fall where they may.”
It will be months before a budget is approved, and DeSantis’ recommendation is just a suggestion to the Florida Legislature. The group begins its annual session in January to determine a spending plan. Once that plan is agreed upon, DeSantis will be able to veto individual items.
Florida State, which went 13-0 and won the ACC Championship Game, fell to fifth place in Sunday’s final standings, behind Michigan (13-0), Washington (13-0), Texas (12 -1) and Alabama (12-1). ). The Longhorns and Crimson Tide moved ahead of FSU after winning the Big 12 and SEC championships, respectively.
FSU lost star quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a gruesome leg injury in a game against North Alabama on Nov. 18, but won two critical games with backup quarterbacks Tate Rodemaker and Brock Glenn. The committee cited Travis’ injury as a reason to leave FSU.
“In the eyes of the committee, Florida State is a different team without Jordan Travis,” committee chairman Boo Corrigan said Sunday. “One of the things we consider is player availability, and our job is to rank the best teams, and in the final decision, considering that, it was Alabama with four and Florida State with five.”
Others besides DeSantis have expressed outrage over the snub, with Florida State football coach Mike Norvell saying he was “disgusted and infuriated” by the committee’s decision Sunday to leave the Seminoles out of the foursome. equipment. FSU is the first undefeated Power 5 conference champion to miss the playoffs.
“What’s the point of playing? Do you tell players that it’s okay to quit if someone goes down? Don’t you play on Senior Day for fear of getting injured? What is the motivation for scheduling challenging games outside of conference? Norvell said.
FSU athletic director Michael Alford said the committee “failed college football” with the decision.
Florida State is scheduled to face Georgia in the Orange Bowl on December 30.
Required reading
(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
