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Florida State getting snubbed by the College Football Playoff committee was not only devastating for the Seminoles from an emotional standpoint, it will also cost the university and its coaching staff millions of dollars.
After going a perfect 13-0 and winning the ACC Championship, Florida State was left out of the playoffs in favor of the Big 10, Pac-12, SEC and Big 12 champions, two of which had one loss.
On Sunday, it was reported that Florida lawmakers were already considering legal action.
“The corruption of college football rears its ugly head again,” former Florida State player Corey Simon wrote on X. “ESPN and Disney have a vested interest in the SEC participating in the CFP. Lawsuits should be filed tomorrow.”
Part of that legal action could end up being related to the financial cost the College Football Playoff’s selection committee’s decision had on the university.
According to a report by Eric Fisher of Front Office Sports, “A potential $6 million ACC payout, had the Seminoles reached the CFP, now becomes $4 million as FSU instead plays No. 6 Georgia in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30. Norvell, meanwhile, will see a minimum $500,000 bonus (which could have risen to $950,000 with a CFP title) reduced to $200,000.”
In addition to that money lost, he also points out the potential “long-term impacts on recruiting and business operations surrounding the Seminoles’ football program” as a result of the controversial decision to leave the Seminoles out of the playoffs.
Those losses could be very significant should Florida State have made the playoffs and gone undefeated en route to winning the national championship.
Of course, all this saber-rattling could be for nothing should the 4th-ranked Seminoles lose to the 6th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Dec. 30 in the Orange Bowl.
However, should Florida State win in impressive fashion or should the 5th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide get smoked by the top-ranked Michigan Wolverines on Jan. 1, then all bets are off.