Florida: Here Is Why Florida State Did Not Make The Playoff

In a league where there is a "power five" conference layout, and yet four spots for playoff teams, logistically, one team will always be left out. However, this year, with undefeated Florida State not making the college football playoff, some fans are a bit confused.

Yesterday, we learned that undefeated Michigan is the number one seed and will face Alabama (one loss) in the first semi-final game. Then, Washington, also undefeated, will play Texas (one loss). Upon this announcement by the NCAA college football committee, the immediate reaction was surprise... and outrage if are you a Florida State (or Georgia) fan. It's a fair knee-jerk reaction. But why did this happen, and how did we get here?

Let's lay out the facts. The NCAA college football process (until next year when the playoff formula changes) is that four of the best team will be decided by 13 NCAA committee members.

There are three points to consider here. First, Mike Greenberg of ESPN's Get Up, made a great analogy this morning. Greenberg compared the current college football layout to figure skating. "You know what happened yesterday? Football became figure skating," Greenberg exclaimed. He was saying that "the process" of selecting the four teams is somewhat subjective. There are opinions behind the 13-person committee. They are evaluating the team's performances and trying to project how they might perform in the playoffs. Now, here are two of the main points they considered when opting to leave out an undefeated team that just won their conference championship the night before.

Texas Christian University went 5-7 this year. Last year, TCU was undefeated and was selected to go to the college football playoff. They beat a powerhouse in Michigan, and it made it to the championship game vs. Georgia. Then, they lost 65-7. Yes, a fellow-undefeated team that finished #2 lost in the nationally televised championship game by 58 points. The NCAA does not want that to happen ever again. Therefore, they are sensitive to voting in teams that are currently not playing as well as other contenders. This demonstrates, the NCAA cares about what will give us the best matchup.

Florida State losing quarterback Jordan Travis to a season-ending leg injury in November was an important point here. Also on Get Up this morning, analyst Dan Orlovsky talked about the impact of the Cincinnati Bengals losing Joe Burrow for the season. He explained that he and other analysts were adamant that the Bengals were a high favorite to win the AFC this season. The quarterback play of Burrow was incredible. Unfortunately, he then went down for the season and so did the talk of the Bengals having a chance this year. This leads to a question as to whether or not the NCAA tournament is a quarterback-driven tournament or a team tournament? It's a fair question. The point here is that the Seminoles not having Travis or stability at the quarterback position (with Tate Rodemaker also injured) worked against them.

The 2024/2025 college football season will see this debate go away. Next year, college football moves to a 12-team playoff. For now, we are left with Florida State being left out of the college football playoff because the 13-person committee evaluated their performance and expected performance less than the four teams who were voted in. As a heavyweight consultation, Florida State will play Georgia (who won the last two championships, and was also left out) in the Orange Bowl.

As a youth coach, there is no better feeling than being able to be able to coach a team that your kid is on. But you realize, if your little athletes goes on to play post-youth ball, they will eventually play for someone else. This led me to think about which high-profile football coaches (in both the NFL and NCAA) I would want my kid to play for today.

This is focused on the sport of football for three main reasons. The first is that is the sport I coach him in. Second, it's the sport of the season. Lastly, it's the sport my son loves the most right now.

In today's modern era of professional and high-profile college sports, the head coaches are very prominent figures. Their press conferences are posted to social media. Furthermore, their demeanor is constantly evaluated,, as the press formulate an opinion as to whether or not they are doing a good job.

So, what do I look for when thinking about who I'd want my son to play for? Well, in this hypothetical scenario, it is important to note that I am selecting a coach, and not a team. Then, it boils down to attitude. These coaches seem to have an attitude that goes way beyond winning. There's an empathy to their approach. They carry themselves as unique individuals first, and then as a coach. This then leads their locker room to do the same. Lastly, each of them has bet on themselves, and some point had to have the unwavering belief that they would be great at what they do. They never quit on their dreams or their teams.

I have never met any of these coaches. In addition, none of them coach the team I cheer for. They simply inspire me with how they go about their craft and inspire their players.

Here are the four football coaches I'd want my kid to play for.

After the Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Dan Campbell stood at the team locker room door and congratulated each player on his team as they entered. A hand shake, a hug, a slap on the shoulder pads, or a "great job, man" was issued to each member of the squad. This sentiment is nothing new for Campbell. He's a player's coach; he relates to his players. Why? Because he was one. Campbell played tight end in the NFL for the Giants, Cowboys, Lions, and Saints before becoming a coach. Campbell makes sure his players know two things before they take the field. That he believes in them, and that he has their backs. Furthermore, Campbell always exemplifies gratitude for his moments. He knows what it's like to fail and get back up. In 2015, Campbell was named the interim head coach of the Dolphins. He was not retained. Now, he has the Lions in the playoffs.

From a NFL Dan to a college football Dan. Yes, the Oregon Ducks lost heartbreakers to the University of Washington Huskies this past season. Yes, you can argue Lanning had some interesting calls in those games. In response, Lanning said, "I think this game is 100% on me," he said." He took responsibility and held himself accountable, which is what he expects of his players. A coach who has the confidence to show his or her leadership while simultaneously recognizing the responsibility that comes with such a title, is someone you want your kids to look up to. Speaking of kids, Lanning had to move countless times until he earned his Oregon head coaching job. He too, failed more than once, but believed in himself to get back up without having a plan B. Even when his kids were babies, he bet on himself to keep going after his dream instead of taking a paycheck outside of coaching. 

If you want an example of overcoming adversity and defying the odds, Mike McDaniel is a pretty great example. As a young kid obsessed with the Denver Broncos, McDaniel used to ride his bike to their training camp. One day he lost his hat and then met the team assistant, Gary McCune, who felt bad for this kid who was so upset. This led to McDaniel eventually becoming a ballboy. At 22, he was a coaching intern for the Broncos. Over the next 17 years, he would do every odd job possible as an NFL assistant. He got fired a few times, successfully completed rehab, and lost a Super Bowl. McDaniel never stopped grinding, even when he'd frequently get called the "IT guy" due to his smaller size. He didn't look like a NFL coach, and he had his own style. This is what has led to McDaniel's success with the Miami Dolphins. His players love playing for him, just as much as he loved coaching for them. He also gets to the office at 3 am.

I am staying in the Pacific Northwest for my college choices here. However, it's a non-football related story that made me take to Coach DeBoer, who led the Huskies to the championship. Prior to the Oregon game, the Huskies star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. partnered with a local artist named Keegan Hall. Together, they signed prints of Hall's incredible drawing of Penix Jr. They sold 200 of them and donated every dollar earned to a local charity. Coach DeBoer was involved in this effort, showing a high level of support. Then, Hall shared a story where DeBoer went out of his way, while on the field during the Oregon game to express his sincere interest in what Hall and Penix Jr. had accomplished. "Without a doubt, @kalendeboer has been incredibly successful on the field but, in my opinion, it’s what he does off the field that enables that success," Hall said, telling the story in an Instagram post. This type of authentic human-element is something you can't teach. DeBoer has shown he cares about the person, and the impact, not just the football player.