- Ron DeSantis is Florida Governor and aiming to be the Republican candidate for the Presidency of the United States in 2024
- He weighed in to debate over Alabama being chosen over FSU in CFB rankings
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Florida Governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has become the latest high-profile figure to weigh in on the controversial decision to omit Florida State Seminoles from the College Football Playoffs.
The CFB committee released their highly-anticipated Playoff rankings at lunchtime on Sunday and there was a hugely controversial call to omit the 13-0 Florida State in favor of 12-1 Alabama, following the Crimson Tide’s win over Georgia yesterday.
Many, though, believed FSU’s unbeaten season was deserving of a place in the top four – and that includes Florida Governor DeSantis, who took to X to share his disbelief at the decision.
‘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,’ he said to his 2.2million followers.
‘Congratulations to @FSUFootball on an outstanding season and winning the ACC championship!’
The Florida State Seminones went 13-0 in the regular season but dropped from third to fifth
Ron DeSantis was among the high-profile figures fuming at the decision on Sunday afternoon
He took to X to share his thoughts on the decision to omit FSU in favor of Alabama
DeSantis was not the only big name to share his fury at the decision, with the ACC itself and FSU’s athletic director both going scorched earth at the CFB over the decision.
‘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,’ AD Michael Alford said in a statement.
‘The argument of whether a team is the “most deserving OR best” is a false equivalence,’ he continued. ‘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.’
Head coach Mike Norvell followed that up with some comments of his own, noting: ‘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?’
The team’s No. 1 quarterback Jordan Travis also joined the fury, after his teammates continued winning even after he broke his leg earlier in the season.
The Florida State Seminoles celebrate after sealing the ACC Championship title on Saturday
Mike Norvell lifted the trophy on Saturday – but was left furious just hours later on Sunday
‘Devastated. 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,’ Travis posted on X.
‘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!’
Florida State entered the weekend ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff and won the ACC Championship game over Louisville with third-string Brock Glenn as the team’s starting quarterback.
The Seminoles become the first undefeated Power Five Conference team to be left out of the College Football Playoff in its 10-season history in its final iteration of four teams.