Florida State quarterback Brock Glenn firmly believes that if the Seminoles conclude the season as the sole undefeated Power 5 team in college football, they should unquestionably be considered national champions.
Glenn revealed that the idea of celebrating a national championship has been discussed among the players, even though they missed out on the College Football Playoff and have seen several teammates opt out of bowl games.
As Florida State gears up for the Capital One Orange Bowl against Georgia, Glenn emphasized the team’s commitment to finishing an undefeated season on a high note.
“The Orange Bowl is an awesome bowl, one of the best in the country, and we have a great opportunity in front of us playing Georgia,” Glenn said Thursday. “It’s still a big game for us, and we’re taking it seriously. We’re focused on the guys we have here to help us win the game.”
Glenn, who initially served as Florida State’s third-string quarterback, took over as the starter due to injuries and transfers. Despite being 13-0, the Seminoles were excluded from the College Football Playoff due to an injury to Jordan Travis. They now face two-time defending champion Georgia.
Florida State is positioned as a potential last undefeated team from a Power 5 conference if Michigan (13-0) and Washington (13-0) lose in the College Football Playoff.
Linebacker Kalen DeLoach expressed the sentiment shared by some Seminoles, saying, “It’s only right. Nothing else needs to be said if we’re the only undefeated team.”
While history provides examples of teams claiming championships outside the official framework, not all Florida State players are ready to declare themselves champions. Defensive lineman Braden Fiske pondered the notion, saying, “Would it be phony? That’s weird. Would it be cool? Sure. But would it be a little bit cooler to actually be in [the playoff] and feel that confetti drop?”
Florida State’s athletic director, Michael Alford, stated that there are currently no plans for postseason celebrations, emphasizing the focus on the Orange Bowl.
The Seminoles’ playoff exclusion still resonates with some players, serving as motivation for their game against Georgia. DeLoach remarked, “I think about it every day,” he said. “These guys put in so much work. I only want the best for us. To go out there for 13 games straight and do what we do — there was nothing else we could’ve done. So we’re definitely going to take advantage of this opportunity to make it one more.”
Even a handful of Georgia players, who had their own arguments for a spot in the playoff, said they understood Florida State’s frustration.
“You put a lot of stress on one player when a team is 80 to 130 players,” Georgia defensive back Kamari Lassiter said. “The committee made their decision, and they thought it was the best one. Who am I to say they’re wrong? But it’s tough.”
How much the frustration played a part on a bevy of Florida State opt-outs remains a point of debate, but the bottom line is the Seminoles will be without at least 19 players who had significant roles during the season, including tailback Trey Benson, wide receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson, tight end Jaheim Bell, edge rusher Jared Verse and safety Akeem Dent.
Travis and tailback Lawrance Toafili are among key players who will miss the Orange Bowl because of injuries.
Those who will play in the game said there were no hard feelings toward anyone who opted out, but DeLoach said skipping this last step toward an undefeated season was simply never a consideration for him.
“You only get so many opportunities to put that uniform on, and I want to make sure I take advantage of all my opportunities,” DeLoach said. “When it’s all said and done, I’m going to really wish I could put that uniform back on again, so I want to just go out there with my brothers. We’ve been through so much, and to go out there for one more game, it’s going to mean the world to me.”