With College Football Playoff's slight to Florida State, Florida lawmakers prepared for discourse
Florida lawmakers will have conversations this week on the College Football Playoff committee’s slight to Florida State, Rep. Chip LaMarca told On3 on Sunday night.
One of the leading states in the NIL conversation nationwide, legislators already have an understanding of the current college sports landscape. Sunday served as another reminder of the flaws in the NCAA landscape.
Despite finishing the season 13-0 and winning the ACC title on Saturday night, the Seminoles were left out of the four-team College Football Playoff field on Sunday afternoon. They were passed up by Texas and Alabama, both programs with one loss.
While 12-team expansion is coming next year, it doesn’t take away the sting Florida State is dealing with. State lawmakers are readying to have conversations and possibly shake up the CFP, if possible.
“With members like Senator Corey Simon and CFO Jimmy Patronis, I wouldn’t put it past us,” LaMarca told On3 in a statement on Sunday night. “We are all proud of our Florida teams and want to make sure the playing field is level for all of them. That was the entire point of why I ran NIL and the CFP slight is so clear that it will cause conversations this week when we’re up for committee meetings.”
The presumption was the Seminoles’ strength of schedule was a difference maker. Quarterback Jordan Travis, who broke his leg in a non-conference matchup earlier this month, was also ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Legislators are just accepting that train of thought as an excuse for leaving out Florida State. Plus, the state of Florida has been in litigation with Disney, which owns ESPN and broadcasts the College Football Playoff.
“But yes, it will be talked about,” political strategist Corey Staniscia told On3. “To what extent we can do something to bring more transparency or shake things up, we shall see. Bad timing for NCAA and CFP, but good timing for legislators as we are smack in the middle of committee weeks and session is around the corner, ironically, Jan. 9 — the day after the championship.”
It remains unclear what Florida legislators could do to react to the CFP’s decision, however, lawmakers will explore how they can bring more transparency to the structure.