Orange Bowl Snub: An Injustice to Undefeated Teams MIAMI, Florida – The disappointment is palpable as two highly talented and undefeated college football teams, Florida State and Georgia, have been snubbed by the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee. Instead of vying for the national title, they will face off in the Orange Bowl on December 30th. The CFP committee’s decision has left both programs and their fans feeling angry and robbed of the opportunity they believed they deserved. Florida State, ranked No. 4 (13-0 ACC, No. 5 CFP), and Georgia, ranked No. 6 (12-1 SEC, No. 6 CFP), entered the selection process with high hopes. The Seminoles overcame significant adversity, including quarterback Jordan Travis’ broken leg, and emerged as undefeated champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). On the other hand, the Bulldogs had an impressive 29-game winning streak, including back-to-back national championships, before suffering a narrow defeat to Alabama in the SEC title game. The decision by the CFP committee to exclude these two teams has sparked outrage and disbelief. Florida State head coach Mike Norvell expressed his disappointment, stating that the snub goes against the principles of fairness and integrity in college football. He emphasized the resilience and determination his team displayed throughout the season and condemned the committee’s decision as a disservice to their remarkable achievements. The exclusion of Florida State and Georgia from the playoff conversation has even garnered sympathy from teams that made the cut. Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford acknowledged the hard work and dedication that these teams put into their seasons, highlighting the injustice of being left out despite going undefeated. Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, the CFP’s No. 2 seed, admitted that he couldn’t fathom going undefeated and still missing out on a playoff spot. Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who vehemently advocated for his team’s inclusion after their loss to Alabama, expressed his frustration and disbelief. The Bulldogs had consistently held the top spot in the AP Top 25 rankings throughout the season and were highly-ranked in every CFP release prior to the final decision. Smart criticized the committee for not recognizing the quality of his team and questioned their judgment. The committee’s decision marks a unique occurrence in the history of the CFP. For the first time since the format’s introduction in 2014, every team ranked No. 1 during the regular season failed to secure a playoff spot. The exclusion of Georgia and Ohio State, the only two teams ranked No. 1 by the committee, has raised eyebrows and led to questions about the selection process. The plight of these two teams underscores the importance of player availability in the committee’s decision-making. Florida State suffered a significant blow when quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending broken leg. Despite their success without him, the committee considered his absence when making their final rankings. This factor, coupled with the committee’s judgment of the teams’ overall strength, led to Alabama securing the fourth spot and Florida State falling to fifth. The Seminoles, determined to prove their worth, overcame Travis’ absence and secured victories over rival Florida and Louisville to capture the ACC title. Travis himself took to social media to express his frustration, suggesting that his injury may have influenced the committee’s decision. He believes that his team’s undefeated record and the talent within their roster make them deserving of a higher ranking. With both teams boasting a combined record of 25-1 and a shared sense of being overlooked, the Orange Bowl matchup between Florida State and Georgia promises to be an intense battle. These teams have something to prove and will be looking to make a statement on the field. As personal injury bloggers, we understand the importance of accountability and fairness. The exclusion of Florida State and Georgia from the playoff serves as a timely reminder that even in sports, decisions must be based on merit and fairness. Let us hope that this controversy prompts a review of the selection process to prevent future injustices. ___ AP Sports Writers Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, and Tim Booth in Seattle contributed. ___ Stay updated with the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football