Desmond Howard suggests CFP always wanted SEC over Florida State: ‘The seed was planted’

More than 48 hours after undefeated Florida State was left out of the College Football Playoff in favor of a one-loss Alabama team, discussion around the playoff selection committee’s decision continues to wage.

On Tuesday, that debate took on a blunter tone — and on the network that partners with the playoff to air its games, no less. In an appearance on “College Football Live,” ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard described the Crimson Tide’s inclusion in the field in terms that made it sound preordained.

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“At the end of the day, they wanted to have an SEC school in there,” said Howard, the former Heisman Trophy winner at Michigan and Super Bowl MVP with the Green Bay Packers. “If you really paid attention, the three weeks leading up to last weekend, it was already discussed how Florida State was going to be left out and how Texas and Alabama were going to jump Florida State. It was already out there for discussion. The seed was planted. It was just a matter of making sure that it happened.”

In the weeks leading up to their ultimate exclusion, the Seminoles’ position in the weekly playoff committee rankings was in flux.

Prior to a season-ending leg injury to star quarterback Jordan Travis, Florida State was No. 4 only to move back to No. 5 the following week after Travis went down. After then-No. 2 Ohio State lost to Michigan on Nov. 25, though, the Seminoles moved back up into the top four heading into their ACC championship game matchup against Louisville. They fell back to No. 5 in the final rankings one week later.

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The best, most compelling evidence for Howard’s point came…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/desmond-howard-suggests-cfp-always-221738664.html

Author : Tallahassee Democrat

Publish date : 2023-12-06 22:17:38

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