WATCH: ESPN Analyst Does a Total 180, Defends Florida State’s Historic Playoff Snub Just 5 Days After Saying They Were a Lock
ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy appeared to have had a drastic change of heart when it came to Florida State getting snubbed from the College Football Playoff.
After finishing the regular season undefeated and securing the ACC championship, the fourth-ranked Seminoles were stunned to find out they were not chosen as one of the four teams in the CFP. Making matters worse was the fact that Alabama, which lost to Texas earlier in the season, jumped ahead of them was and given the fourth and final spot after beating Georgia in the SEC championship.
The Florida State watch party understandably isn’t much of a party after the Seminoles were left out of the College Football Playoff field. #CFP pic.twitter.com/GpyBjcQh4n
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 3, 2023
Arguably the biggest case against Florida State was the fact that the team was down to its third-string quarterback due to injuries to the first two. The argument against that point is that a team shouldn’t be punished for injuries — especially a team that continued winning despite them.
Just a few days ago, as pointed out by X/Twitter user TJ Pittinger, McElroy seemed to agree with that counter and expressed confidence in FSU making the playoff.
“I think they’re perfectly fine. They win, they’re in,” McElroy said ahead of FSU’s championship game against Louisville. “We don’t even need to entertain the idea of a one-loss team potentially jumping, a la Texas and Alabama. Florida State’s in. They’re gonna take care of business this weekend. They’re gonna be in. They deserve to be.”
Ahead of Sunday’s final rankings, however, McElroy completely changed his tune.
“When you look at what the committee has said for 10 years, it’s an opportunity today to practice what they preach,” he said. “They’re been telling us for 10 years it’s the four best teams. Right now, I think without a shadow of a doubt, Alabama is among the four best teams. The debate between Alabama and Florida State will rage on; and if they really wanna tell us and continue to tell us it’s the four best teams, then Alabama should be in the four spot.”
The way each team looked in their respective championship wins might have swayed McElroy’s opinion. FSU beat 16th-ranked Louisville 16-6, while Alabama beat the top-ranked Bulldogs — the two-time reigning national champions — 27-24.
