Deion Sanders on Florida State missing playoff: 'No way you're gonna leave Coach Saban and Alabama out'

Deion Sanders doesn’t exactly feel sorry for his alma mater Florida State being left out of the College Football Playoff.

The Colorado head coach is a competitor after all. But when he was asked about FSU missing out compared to Alabama, Sanders made it clear: it’s a business.

Joining the Dan Le Batard Show, Sanders sent a message regarding Florida State not getting into the top four.

“I can’t be upset, we recruiting against those guys,” Sanders said. “You got to understand that this is business now. You got to look at it, a lot of people don’t look at it like this is business. This is entertainment but this is business.

“So it’s no way you’re gonna leave Coach Saban and Alabama out of a playoff. Who should be really upset, not only Florida State, but Kirby Smart. He’s been what, No. 1 for the last two years or three years and they’re out? What about them? I mean, this is unbelievable. I want those problems, yeah give me those problems.”

Le Batard said Sanders was okay with the whole playoff being a “TV commercial,” as in the biggest brands. Sanders had a slightly different take.

“This is what it is,” Sanders said. “You know who really messed it up and they’re really good, but you know who messed it up was Washington. They messed it up because that’s not a huge market there. You got Michigan, Texas, Alabama, Washington, and they can play. God they’re good. 

“I mean they can flat out play. They got a quarterback that is out of this world, that defense is coming. This is perfect. I can’t wait to see how it plays out. But leaving out a Florida State as well as a Georgia, my god that’s why I’m thankful it’s increased next year. And guess who’s gonna be in?”

Colorado in the playoff? Well, we’ll see about that. But Sanders might have a point about the expanded playoff.

There won’t be these kinds of debates next fall. Maybe Colorado has to compete with Florida State for a playoff spot next year, according to Sanders.

But it’ll be a long climb within the Big 12 after a poor end to a promising 2023 season.

“This was a season of hope,” Sanders said after the season ended. “We instilled hope not only in our fan base, but in college football alike. But, next year is a season of expectation. Right now, we are recruiting our butts off. I’m recruiting as I speak. The expectation is everything. We have players that can get it done. We have a tremendous coaching staff. Now, we just got to add a few more pieces to the puzzle.”