Kirk Herbstreit on why he'd leave undefeated FSU out of CFP Top 4: 'Undefeated means nothing'
After defeating Louisville on Saturday, Florida State is one of only three Power Five teams in the country with a 13-0 record. The other two are Washington and Michigan. Both programs will be in the College Football Playoff. Kirk Herbstreit believes FSU doesn’t deserve the same treatment.
“That undefeated thing it’s a bunch of BS. Undefeated, to me, means nothing,” Herbstreit said during an appearance on ESPN. “I know winning matters but are they, right now, without Jordan Travis, one of the best four teams?
“I’ve called a lot of these semifinal games and they average 19 points [margin of victory] because we do what’s the right thing? We need to put the right thing to the side and put the best teams in there.”
If Florida State starting quarterback Jordan Travis was still healthy, there would not be a conversation. However, he isn’t. Travis went down with a season-ending injury in FSU’s Week 12 victory over North Alabama.
The Seminoles’ misfortune didn’t stop there. In FSU’s Week 13 win over in-state rival Florida, backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker suffered a brutal hit. Although Rodemaker finished the game, the collision took a toll on him. He did not play in the ACC Championship.
Now, potentially stuck with its third-string quarterback for the rest of the season, FSU’s postseason is in peril. Alabama and Texas both have losses, but are playing their best ball of the season. FSU does not look like the same as when Travis was leading the charge.
Kirk Hebstreit hammers home his point
Herbstreit claims the difference is enough to keep the Seminoles out of the CFP.
“Florida State, to me, without Jordan Travis, they’re not one of the best four. They have an undefeated record. They won the ACC. It’s a heck of an accomplishment. But without their guts, their pulse, their heart and soul Jordan Travis? Look at them these last two weeks. You’re gonna tell me that’s one of the best four teams in the country? Come on. That’s ridiculous.”
Florida State won its final two games without Travis, but it wasn’t pretty. In Week 13, the team pulled out a grueling 24-15 victory over Florida. In the win, the Seminoles recorded a mere 224 total yards of offense. For reference, FSU averaged 416.3 yards per game this season.
FSU didn’t look much better in its win over Louisville on Saturday. In the triumph, the team only amassed 216 total yards, and its passing game was underwhelming. Third-string QB Brock Glenn only completed 8-of-his-21 pass attempts.
Florida State won’t have to wait long to find out its fate. On Sunday, the College Football Playoff field will be revealed during the CFP Selection Show, airing at noon ET on ESPN.