Chris Fowler: My heart is broken for Florida State

Alabama jumped from No. 8 to 4 to claim the final College Football Playoff spot, which means Florida State is the first undefeated Power Five conference champion to not be able to compete for a national title since the advent of the CFP format.

College football analyst Chris Fowler agrees with the committee’s decision to leave FSU out — if their criteria is based on who are the best four teams. If they’re going by resume, he thinks the Seminoles have a right to be upset at the committee’s decision.

Still, that isn’t stopping him from feelings a bit of sympathy for the ‘Noles after everything they’ve accomplished.

“My heart is broken for Florida State,” Fowler told Rece Davis on ESPN’s selection show special. “There was a moment in the show earlier when the news was delivered to that watch party. Mike Norvell’s head dropped and right up to his left was sitting Jordan Travis with his injured leg propped up on a chair. Then to hear his statement, It is heartbreaking and I know why they feel wronged. The committee has not been, as you guys just pointed out, consistent throughout their 10-year run. Most deserving works best.

“Do you think TCU was one of the best four teams? Last year, they were ranked No. 2 and underdogs to K-State in a Big 12 Championship game that they lost and then still got seeded ahead of Ohio State. Now, they beat Michigan. Credit to them. But we know the de facto championship game was in Atlanta.”

Last year, it was Alabama who was snubbed from the field after TCU remained at No. 3 after their loss to the Wildcats. This season, those who helped make the final decision chose to vote on a different philosophy.

“You can see why Florida State is heartbroken,” Fowler continued. “They’re a great team. They have an elite defense, they have elite playmakers — but the importance of the quarterback position in the sport these days, once again is in the spotlight with this choice by the committee.”

Jordan Travis has since released a statement on the matter, saying that he was heart-broken by the committee’s decision and that he wishes he broke his leg sooner so that he team could have flourished without him longer. “I thought results matter,” he said.

Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama all boast one of the nation’s most talented quarterbacks. Without Travis, the committee decided that based on the sample size they had of FSU without Travis, the ‘Noles were not on par with the other teams considered in playoff contention.

Now, all Florida State can do is play the team in front of them in the bowl game they’re handed, and make the most of their opportunity. A 14-0 Power Five conference champion snubbed from the CFP will go down in history as one of the most controversial decisions of the playoff’s current format.