SEC’s Greg Sankey Shades FSU, Defends Georgia After 2023 CFB Playoff Snubs

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJuly 17, 2024

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Last year’s four-team College Football Playoff left undefeated ACC champion Florida State and reigning back-to-back national champion Georgia out of the mix at No. 5 and No. 6, and a firestorm of controversy and anger afterward surrounded FSU’s snub.

On Wednesday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey defended Georgia’s case while referencing that FSU outrage, per Matt Hayes of 1010XL.

Matt Hayes @MattHayesCFBSEC commish Greg Sankey on @1010XL: “Georgia was one of the best four teams (in the nation) and didn’t get in (the Playoff). But you didn’t see us jumping up and down and complaning and hanging national championship banners.”

A not so subtle shot at FSU.

Georgia ended up beating a severely undermanned FSU team 63-3 in the Orange Bowl after many Seminoles left the team for NFL draft preparations.

Florida State had two things working against them.

First, starting quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a devastating season-ending injury on Nov. 18 against North Alabama. FSU struggled offensively in its next two games but earned victories over Florida (24-15) and Louisville in the ACC Championship (16-6).

CFP Committee chair Boo Corrigan noted at the time that part of the reason FSU was left out was because the team was not the same without Travis.

Second, the ACC had a down year and was clearly the weakest Power Five conference. Louisville was the second-highest ranked ACC team at season’s end (No. 15), and NC State and Clemson were the only other ACC teams in the Top 25 (No. 18 and 22, respectively).

FSU did have a 45-24 season-opening win over an LSU team that finished No. 12 in the final polls, though. The team had a treasure trove of talent, including a fantastic defense that had four players go in the NFL draft’s top three rounds.

But FSU was ultimately left out. The same went for Georgia, which was a brutal snub as well after the team went 12-0 before losing its only game to Alabama in the SEC Championship. But the committee ultimately rolled with the undefeated Big Ten squad (Michigan), the undefeated Pac-12 team (Washington), the one-loss Texas Longhorns (Big 12 winners) and one-loss Alabama.

It was a tough break for FSU and Georgia, and the fact that they would have both easily made it if the new 12-team playoff format was in place last year is likely no solace to either school. But both are in a good position to make the CFP this season as the playoff expands.

Of course, given how much people haggle over the bubble squads for a 68-team NCAA basketball men’s tournament field, the arguments should only grow louder this year for the fringe schools on the CFP cut line. So don’t be surprised to see even more arguing and complaining come December.