ESPN commentator Stephan A. Smith made a point about Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders and Florida State that should make the College Football Playoff committee feel a little grimy after Sunday’s rankings.
The most controversial decision in CFP history came when the committee removed an undefeated FSU team from the top four and put in a one-loss Alabama squad. The committee said they made the choice because of quarterback Jordan Travis’ injury.
Many fans and pundits feel the committee used Travis’ injury as an excuse to put Alabama in because the Crimson Tide fanbase will bring better ratings than FSU would have. Smith agreed the committee made the right decision putting Alabama in. But he also made a point that should make FSU fans frustrated.
Stephen A. Smith: FSU gets in with Deion Sanders as the HC
Sanders, who played college football for FSU, was linked to their head coaching job during the 2019 search. FSU ultimately hired Mike Norvell. Smith said on the Pat McAfee Show Monday an undefeated Sanders FSU team would be in the playoffs regardless of the injury status of their starting quarterback.
“We don’t want to say it, but I’m going to say it,” Smith said. “Prime Time Deion Sanders, he wanted [the FSU] job years ago; if he would have coached and they had a 12-0 record, they’d be in the playoffs. The buzz, the juice, it matters, it matters, in college football. I didn’t say it’s fair, I didn’t say it’s right, but it’s true.”
Smith made a similar point on First Take Monday:
"I bet you if Primetime Deion Sanders was that coach, they wouldn’t have gotten left out."
—@stephenasmith on Florida State missing out on the CFP pic.twitter.com/DEEwjK5geT
— First Take (@FirstTake) December 4, 2023
Sanders said FSU was left out for entertainment purchases, as Saban is a bigger draw than Norvell. We’ve known for a long time the committee was screwing over fairness in the sport for ratings. It’s about time pundits on ESPN called them out for doing so.
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