Lynne Sladky/AP
Florida State quarterback Brock Glenn (11) performs drills in preparation for the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, in Davie, Florida. Florida State will play Georgia in the Orange Bowl on December 30 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
CNN –
Florida State finished the regular season undefeated and won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. But despite a 13-0 loss, the Seminoles miss the College Football Playoff. The snub infuriated Florida State.
And according to ESPN, Seminoles quarterback Brock Glenn said that Florida State should “absolutely” be considered national champions should it be the only undefeated Power 5 team left after the playoffs.
The Seminoles look to finish the season 14-0 and will face Georgia (12-1) of the Southeastern Conference in the Orange Bowl on Saturday. The Power 5 conferences consist of the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC.
Florida State became the first undefeated Power 5 team to miss the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014, when the playoff committee chose to select Michigan (13-0), Washington (13-0), Texas (12-1) and Alabama decided (12-1) as the four playoff teams. Texas and Alabama overtook Florida State, which fell to fifth place.
“It’s only right,” Florida State linebacker Kalen DeLoach said when asked the hypothetical question of what happens if Florida State ends up being the only undefeated team left in this group. “There’s nothing more to say when we’re the only undefeated team.”
ESPN also reports that Glenn said the idea of raising a banner was discussed among other players. But defensive lineman Braden Fiske expressed skepticism when asked by a reporter.
“It’s hard – I don’t know. Is this a fake (banner)? I don’t know,” Fiske said. “That's strange. It's almost like a pat on the back. Would it be cool? Secure. But I think it would be a little cooler to actually be in (the playoffs) and feel the confetti fall.”
When the playoff teams were announced on December 3, the College Football Playoff committee's rationale for moving Florida State down took into account that the Seminoles lost their starting quarterback, Jordan Travis, to a broken leg on November 18 Lost at the end of the season.
Committee Chairman Boo Corrigan said at the time: “Florida State is a different team than they were in the first 11 weeks…Right now, they are a different team without Jordan Travis and without the offensive dynamism that he brings.”
Glenn, a freshman, was Florida State's third quarterback for most of the season behind Travis and backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker.
Glenn made his first career start in the ACC title game, a 16-6 win over Louisville, with Rodemaker sidelined with a head injury.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Rodemaker was opting out of the Orange Bowl and entering the NCAA transfer portal.
The College Football Playoff semifinals will take place on New Year's Day, with Michigan facing Alabama in the Rose Bowl and Washington facing Texas in the Sugar Bowl. The national championship game is January 8th.