Kirk Herbstreit describes 'dilemma' with Florida State, College Football Playoff

Kirk Herbstreit likes Florida State but it’s going to be a dilemma, if the Seminoles finish undefeated, regarding the College Football Playoff.

Florida State would have earned its way to a 13-0 record and ACC title but there’s still debate if the Seminoles are one of the four best teams. Currently, FSU is No. 4 in the CFP rankings, so there’s precedent.

But with scenarios out there, plus FSU’s current roster makeup, Herbstreit isn’t so sure they’re one of the four best.

“I like Florida State, I just called their game the other night, but the loss of Jordan Travis, to me, is pretty significant,” Herbstreit said on Pardon My Take. “I think that we have to be careful. We live in an era where it’s like, okay, they’re undefeated, so they’re in because they’re in the Power Five. I don’t do that. I’m really big on the best four teams. Now it’s subjective like what you guys think, who I think, who other people think. I don’t have a dog in the fight here.” 

Herbstreit described the scenario where there are two unbeaten teams at the top and then you get other Power Five champs Oregon and Texas with just one loss all vying for positioning with Florida State.

“If Oregon wins and they’re a one loss team and they beat Washington on Friday night, I can’t not put Oregon in,” Herbstreit said. “I think they’re one of the best teams. I think they have been all year. If Georgia wins and Michigan wins and Florida State wins, if Oregon wins, if Texas wins, we got a serious dilemma. You know that committee no matter what they do, is wrong. No matter who they put in, they’re gonna be wrong. 

“If you think Florida State’s one of the best teams with Tate Rodemaker, then that’s no problem, but I’m just not big on they’re undefeated, so we have to put them in. If you think they’re still one of the best four, then let’s put them in, not because they’re unbeaten.”

That’s the biggest argument: unbeaten versus best. Just because you’re unbeaten, doesn’t mean you should be in. 

That’s the argument with Group of Five schools if they have a 13-0 record, hypothetically. It’s not weighed the same.

Florida State, ideally, gets in if all four unbeaten Power Five teams win their respective conferences. At that point, it’d be hard to argue Texas over Florida State when the Longhorns have one loss on their schedule.

The chaos begins Friday with the Pac-12 Championship, then we shall see.