This week has been full of fantastic wins and epic disappointments for the Florida State Seminoles football team.
Star quarterback Jordan Travis was named ACC Player and Offensive Player of the Year. Mike Norvell was named ACC Coach of the Year. Both awards fueled the flame burning within the team as they headed to Charlotte, North Carolina for the ACC Championship Game against the No. 14-ranked Louisville Cardinals. While it was a fight, the Noles came out victorious, with a significant win of 16-6. This marks FSU’s 16th ACC Championship win and the first ACC Championship win since 2014. The win also solidified FSU’s undefeated streak, elevating them to 13-0.
With Travis out for the season because of an injury, Tate Rodemaker assumed the position of QB1. Sadly, due to a dirty hit in the game last weekend against the University of Florida, Rodemaker was out of the Louisville game on concussion protocols. The Noles would have to survive this game with a true freshman, Brock Glenn. And survive they did.
The Noles fought for four straight quarters, only allowing the Cardinals to kick two field goals. Time and time again, the defense held strong and didn’t let the Cardinals break into the end zone. Linebacker Tatum Bethune intercepted the ball on a fourth down in the end zone to make a game-changing play in the fourth quarter. Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald was three-of-four on field goals during the night, bringing home nine of FSU’s 16 points. Glenn completed eight out of 21 passes for 55 yards on his first start with the Noles. Lawrence Toafili scored the only touchdown of the game with a two-yard run into the end zone.
With this prestigious win, the Seminoles were experiencing a high like no other — that is, until it all came crashing down Sunday afternoon.
The Sunday after all the conference championship games are played is known as Selection Sunday. This is the day the world finds out who is competing in the College Football Playoff (CFP) and where the rest of the teams end up for their bowl games. This is the last year of the four-team playoff, as next year will mark the transition into a 12-team playoff system.
Despite their 13-0 streak and ACC Championship title, FSU did not qualify for playoffs. This is the first time in history that a team that has sustained an undefeated record and won a conference title has not qualified for the CFP.
No. 1 Michigan will play No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl and No. 2 Washington will play No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl. Texas and Alabama are both one-loss teams and still managed to jump ahead of the Noles and qualify for playoffs.
The Committee looked at an undefeated team and told them that without one player, they were not worthy of the chance to play for the national title. Their two wins against SEC teams on the road (one of which took place without their starting quarterback) meant nothing.
Social media was filled with Seminole fans speaking their minds about the announcement. Statements of anger and heartbreak filled screens in the minutes following the reveal. Jordan Travis took to Twitter to apologize to fans, saying he wished he had gotten hurt earlier in the season so his injury didn’t cloud the achievements of the rest of the team. Head Coach Mike Norvell used words like “disgusted” and “infuriated” in his statement following the announcement.
No matter what feelings they have, the Noles must continue their fight. The team will travel to Miami, FL on Dec. 30 to play in the Orange Bowl against the University of Georgia Bulldogs.
FSU, our climb is not over. We will show the world that this team deserves better and show them what it means to have an unconquered spirit.
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