Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., wants answers as to why Florida State University's undefeated football team failed to qualify for the four-team Division I playoffs.
FSU fans have expressed outrage on social media since Sunday, when the College Football Playoff selection committee included two one-loss teams (Texas, Alabama) among its four playoff teams instead of the 13-0 Seminoles.
Scott, who's running for reelection next year, wants to know why FSU became the first undefeated team from a "Power 5" conference to be denied a chance to play for the championship.
The senator on Monday sent a three-page letter to selection committee Chair Boo Corrigan asking for detailed information about the process used to deny FSU a spot in the playoffs.
Scott demanded "total transparency" for how the selection committee reached its conclusion to drop the Seminoles from being ranked fourth a week earlier. FSU defeated Louisville on Saturday to win the ACC title.
"The Committee's decision to drop the 13-0 Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles from its previous 4th-place ranking, and thereby exclude the team from the upcoming playoffs altogether, mere hours after they won the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship game has rightly raised questions among millions of Americans about the integrity of the process employed by this 13-member body, which consists of just five (38%) individuals with relevant experience in coaching or playing football at the collegiate level or higher," Scott wrote.
He said fans' "fury and heartbreak" were not the only reasons for his inquiry.
"[T]here are also financial implications that must be discussed," Scott wrote. "The ACC and FSU have been denied $2 million of revenue distribution from the CFP due to the Committee's decision to remove the Seminoles from playoff contention.
"While this is a significant amount of money, it is just a fraction of the total economic impact that playoff contention would have created for FSU. Beyond the benefit to the university and its athletic program, the Committee's decision will also likely have profound impacts on the future earnings and opportunities for the players."
Scott requested emails, text messages, and other communication between selection committee members, as well as any communication the members had with representatives of the Southeastern Conference, ESPN, and anyone outside the committee.
The committee's decision appeared to be based, in part, on the injury of FSU's star quarterback.
Former President Donald Trump used the committee's omission of FSU to take a another shot at GOP primary rival Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla.
"Florida State was treated very badly by the 'Committee.' They become the first Power Five team to be left out of the College Football Playoffs. Really bad lobbying effort… Lets blame DeSanctimonious!!!" Trump posted on Truth Social.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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