ESPN announcer Joe Tessitore had so much to say after Florida State’s humiliating 63-3 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday within the Orange Bowl at Miami Gardens, Fla.
“The business of faculty football, the infrastructure of faculty football, is broken,” Tessitore said through the fourth quarter.
The Seminoles were down greater than twenty players as a consequence of injury, opt-outs and the transfer portal, which Tessitore says is the explanation for Florida State’s loss.
“The calendar, where you might have the transfer portal, the early signing date, the coaches’ turmoil and silly season of hiring and firing, of players coming and going whilst you’re attempting to bowl prep — that’s pure chaos,” Tessitore said.
Georgia lineman Warren Brinson saw the writing on the wall early on, and even went continue to exist Instagram before the sport was over.
The vast majority of Florida State starters, including major names similar to wide receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson and defensive lineman Jared Verse, Fabien Lovett and Braden Fiske opted to not play Saturday.
The players made their decisions after the Seminoles weren’t chosen for the College Football Playoff despite having an undefeated season and winning a Power 5 conference championship.
College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock explained in a letter addressed to US Senator Rick Scott that the choice was based off of Florida State’s injuries — including the lack of starting quarterback Jordan Travis to an injury in November — and strength of schedule.
Within the letter, Hancock wrote that the College Football Playoff committee decided the Seminoles were “not the identical team without (their) star quarterback.”
Florida State fans were initially outraged by the choice, but after Saturday’s Orange Bowl blowout to Georgia — which was also left outside the playoffs — the fans could have modified their tune.
The College Football Playoff Committee announced last month that 12 teams will make it to the playoffs for the 2024-2025 season, which the committee hopes will bring more access and excitement for faculty football fans.
“We’re delighted to be moving forward,” Hancock said. “When the board expanded the playoff starting in 2026 and asked the CFP Management Committee to look at the feasibility of starting the brand new format earlier, the Management Committee went right to work.”