Senator Rick Scott Continues to Push CFP Committee For Answers on FSU Snub

"Please know that no matter how busy things are in Washington, I will never stop fighting for Florida families, our students and our universities."

The 2023 College Football Playoff is set to take place on December 31, in which Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama will compete for a National Championship. There has been outrage across the country about the four teams chosen by the College Football Playoff Committee. Numerous politicians and public figures have publically questioned the decision to leave out 13-0 Florida State in favor of 12-1 Alabama and Texas. 

Earlier in December, U.S. Senator Rick Scott (Fla.) wrote the executive director of the playoff committee, Bill Hancock, for clarity on the decision and was met with reasons detailed during the playoff selection show on ESPN. However, Senator Scott expressed his dissatisfaction in a letter on Monday.

"Dear Mr. Hancock, I appreciate your response on Friday, December 15, to my letter dated Monday, December 4, regarding the unprecedented exclusion of the 13-0, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles from the College Football Playoff (CFP). Unfortunately, your response failed to answer all 10 of the questions I posed in my initial letter," Senator Scott's letter read.

NCAA President Comments on CFP Selection Committee's Decision To Snub Florida State

"In your response, you thanked me for writing to you about college football. I am troubled by your oversimplification of the problem at hand. The work you and the Selection Committee do has implications that stretch far beyond the football fields or athletic departments of our nation's universities. This is bigger than just college football."

The letter continued to detail the economic impact delivered by Florida State's exclusion and reiterated Senator Scott's original request.

"To provide needed transparency and restore confidence in your organization, I again request that you immediately respond to this letter with the following information:

1.  The "listing step" and "ranking step" votes of each member of the Selection Committee for the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
2. Any notes, recordings, or reports detailing the deliberations of the CFP Selection Committee in deciding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
3. Any emails, text messages, or other written communication exchanged between the members of the Selection Committee regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
4. Any emails, text messages, or other written communication exchanged between members of the Selection Committee and CFP company officers, Board of Managers and / or Management Committee regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
5. Any emails, text messages, or other written communication exchanged between members of the Selection Committee and individuals affiliated with ESPN regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3,
6. Any emails, text messages, or other written communication exchanged between members of the Selection Committee and individuals affiliated with the Southeastern Conference (SEC) regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
   Any emails, text messages, or other written communication exchanged between members of the Selection Committee and any individual(s) not affiliated with the CFP regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
1. The statistical data and game video for the Seminoles reviewed by members of the Selection Committee during the deliberation process.
2. Any documentation of recusals granted to Committee members for the
   CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
3. The CFP ethical and conflict of interest standards."

It seems the pressure from government officials for an explanation and requests for transparency will continue.

The full letter can be seen below.

Florida State is set to face Georgia on December 30 in the 2023 Orange Bowl at 4:00 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

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