Getting What They Wanted

By Mike Rifkin

When the College Football Playoff Semi-Finals were announced, some people were disappointed in the NCAA not putting undefeated ACC Champions Florida State in as one of the four best teams in the country. This is the final season with a four-team playoff; next season, the playoff will expand to 12 teams. 

Monday, both games (Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl) came down to the wire, including an overtime thriller. Meanwhile, Florida State got walloped by Georgia, so people will say the committee was proper in leaving Florida State out of the playoff. But Florida State was playing a third-string quarterback, and many starters, including receivers Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson, and Defensive End Jared Verse, all opted out of the Orange Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft. Here’s my question for the committee and people who said they got the four teams right after what transpired: If Jordan Travis had stayed healthy and FSU was still undefeated and won the ACC, would they have been in, and at whose expense? 

Look, this is not meant to bash College Football after what was a banner day for them, but I’m being honest and curious about what would happen if Travis stayed healthy. We got two great Playoff games, with the National Championship game still to come. But while we can enjoy these games, let’s not forget that Florida State had a tremendous season, and despite what happened during the Orange Bowl, that was a different team, and the committee can breathe a sigh of relief.