Joel Klatt evaluates Florida State’s chances at College Football Playoff after Jordan Travis injury

Hearts sunk in Tallahassee when Jordan Travis went down with an injury. Florida State was thought to be on their way to an ACC title and College Football Playoff appearance but Travis’ injury could change things. Two tests remain, beginning with Florida in the Swamp and then Louisville in the ACC Championship game.

When looking at Florida State potentially making the CFP, there is a history of a team doing so after their starting quarterback went down late in the season. Ohio State lost JT Barrett in the Michigan game while being undefeated and ranked No. 7 at the time.

As FOX’s Joel Klatt pointed out, because of the Buckeyes’ performance in the Big Ten Championship game, the committee felt comfortable enough putting them in as the fourth seed.

“I go back to Ohio State in 2014,” Klatt said during Monday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “You remember, JT Barrett got hurt in that season and he was their quarterback. The committee needed to view and see Ohio State with Cardale Jones. The reason they made the playoff — and ultimately won the national championship — is because of what they did in the conference championship game against Wisconsin.

“They showed that they could remain dominant without their starting quarterback. So, therefore, they got included as the four seed.”

Florida State must duplicate success of Ohio State, look good against Florida and Louisville

So, with the blueprint there from nearly a decade ago, Florida State just needs to go out there and execute at a high level. It begins on Saturday in a rivalry game against Florida, a team also likely to be without their starting quarterback, Graham Mertz.

But what if Florida is able to keep the game close, with Florida State potentially squeaking by with a win in the swamp? Klatt believes teams will have the opportunity to jump the Seminoles heading into conference championship week.

“I do think there is a scenario where they remain undefeated and don’t go to the playoff,” Klatt said. “If they have to squeak by Florida — who is not a very good football team… You can’t go and struggle against Florida. I don’t care if it’s a rivalry game or on the road. You’ve to prove to the committee that you can be a dominate, great team at the top of college football. Even without your quarterback.”

Assuming Florida State does take care of business against UF, Klatt believes the Louisville game will be a “play-in” for the College Football Playoff. If not, plenty of arguments will be made about one-loss teams having a more deserving squad than the Seminoles without Travis running the offense.

“I think one of these teams might pass them,” Klatt said. “For sake of argument, let’s say Oregon kicks a field goal with three seconds left to beat Washington in the Pac-12 Championship game. Well, couldn’t you argue both of those teams are better than a Florida State team that doesn’t have Jordan Travis? Yes, of course you can make that argument.”