In the aftermath of Florida State’s snub from the College Football Playoff, head coach Mike Norvell has described the past two weeks as the most challenging of his coaching career. Despite their 13-0 record, the Seminoles were left out of the playoff, and Norvell had to help his team navigate disappointment and frustration.
Norvell immediately addressed the team after the playoff committee’s decision to move FSU from No. 4 to No. 5 in the final rankings. He also sent several text messages to players while on the road recruiting. Many players are still struggling to come to terms with the fact that their undefeated season wasn’t enough to sway the committee.
The Seminoles had been ranked in the top four of the CFP rankings for most of the season. However, when quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending leg injury in Week 13, the offense struggled to recover, resulting in lower-scoring wins against Florida and Louisville to close out the season.
Florida State’s margin of victory in those games was still better than that of Alabama or Washington, and their yardage differential exceeded Michigan’s during the same period. Nevertheless, the committee concluded that the Seminoles’ issues in the passing game without Travis meant they weren’t capable of winning a championship.
Florida State is now preparing for its Capital One Orange Bowl game against No. 6 Georgia on December 30. Several key players have announced they will skip the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft, and others are in the transfer portal. Norvell said he knows who will play and who will not.
Despite the playoff committee’s decision, Norvell sees the bowl preparation as an opportunity for Florida State to make progress and finish the season undefeated. He acknowledged the challenges players faced with reminders on social media but hopes the experience will help them navigate future challenges.
While Norvell didn’t criticize the committee, he expressed pride in his team’s achievements throughout the year and emphasized that the snub wouldn’t diminish what they accomplished during the season.