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The undefeated Florida State Seminoles were dropped from #4 to #5 by the College Football Playoffs selection committee on Tuesday after FSU’s quarterback, Jordan Travis, suffered a college career-ending injury. I was watching the game with some friends I went to FSU with and it was the ultimate gut punch seeing one of the greatest Noles of all time go down like that…
At the end of the day, it was the only move the Committee had to protect themselves from having to decide whether to demote a 13-0 FSU if the Seminoles win their next two games against the Florida Gators and in the ACC Championship. By moving FSU back to #5, the committee now gives itself a 2-game buffer to decide if the Seminoles warrant moving back to #4 with backup QB Tate Rodemaker who was actually the very first commitment under FSU head coach Mike Norvell.
Florida State Seminoles Launching New Streaming Network
As a graduate of Florida State University myself, I’m very interested to see where this is headed. Michael Smith of Sports Business Journal was first to report on the new streaming network from the Seminoles. He writes:
Florida State is teaming with Connected Television Group to create the Seminole Sports Streaming Network, a video-on-demand product that is expected to launch on Dec. 4 with exclusive FSU all-sports content. The Seminole Sports Streaming Network will be available via Apple TV, Fire TV, Google Play, LG, Roku and Xbox as well as desktop and mobile devices.
AD Mike Alford cited the network’s capability “to elevate the distribution” of FSU’s original content globally as a primary factor in the initiative. The streaming network will distribute all aspects of digital content, including podcasts and other radio offerings.
I make no efforts to hide the fact that I graduated from FSU and remain a fan of the Seminoles. Nor do I hide the fact that I think FSU should get out of the ACC as soon as it possibly can.
With scant details on the Seminoles new streaming network it is hard to know if this is a chess piece in that chess match against the ACC. Theoretically, more revenue coming into the Florida State athletics program would help alleviate $120 million FSU would need to pay the ACC to leave on top of the legal fees after that in order to get out of the grant of rights that extends to 2036.
That is putting a LOT OF HOPE into a streaming network when, at this point, we don’t even have a clear idea of what will be offered in terms of content, how much interest there will be from Seminoles fans, and how much it will cost. Once more of that is known we’ll get a better sense of whether or not this is part of FSU’s strategy to leave the ACC.