Transparency On Playoff Head Respond To Florida Lawmakers After FSU’s Snub…

Executive director of the College Football Playoffs Bill Hancock answered Florida lawmakers’ request for “full transparency” on Friday regarding the reasoning behind Florida State’s exclusion from the playoffs.

Hancock informed U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., in a letter dated Friday that the Seminoles’ move from fourth to fifth place in the final rankings—behind unbeaten Michigan and Washington and two teams with one loss each, Texas and Alabama—was based on “two principal reasons”: Jordan Travis’ season-ending injury at Florida State and the team’s favorable schedule.

Travis, a former Benjamin School standout, suffered a serious leg injury during Florida State’s 58-13 victory against North Alabama in the final home game of the regular season.

“That caused the committee to believe that there were indeed four teams that should rank higher than FSU,” Hancock said.

Hancock also cited the Seminoles’ strength of schedule, saying it “was not as strong as the four teams that were ranked ahead of them.” He cited seven other undefeated teams that did not make the playoff in its 10-year history.

“While this is the first year such a team was from a so-called P5 conference, strength of schedule remains a crucial factor,” he said.

Florida State beat a pair of Southeastern Conference teams — a season-opening rout of LSU in Orlando and a road win at Florida with backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker — and had wins against Atlantic Coast Conference foes Clemson, Duke and Miami.

“Everyone on the Committee understands the disappointment felt by Florida State fans,” wrote Hancock in a letter. “We understand that some fans would be disappointed in the choice that was made. Only four of the more than four very good teams that were vying for four Playoff spots this year were able to advance. We all look forward to fantastic playoff games, and the Committee members are sure they made the right choices in selecting the top four teams in the nation according to protocol.”

Earlier this week, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said she planned to launch an investigation into the committee and its actions.

Her remarks followed Scott’s letter to selection committee chairman Boo Corrigan, which demanded the votes of every committee member as well as notes, recordings, emails, texts, and written correspondence between the committee and a number of other parties, including the Southeastern Conference and TV partner ESPN. Scott’s letter was sent more than a week after Florida State was eliminated from the playoffs despite finishing the regular season 13-0.