Michael Alford
When Florida State athletics director Michael Alford tuned into ESPN on Sunday, December 20, 2023, and saw Marty Smith reporting from Tuscaloosa for the College Football Playoff Selection Show, while the Seminoles’ ACC Championship victory was being covered by Harry Lyles Jr. in Tallahassee, doubt crept in.
Despite their undefeated record and ACC Championship win, with Marty Smith covering the Playoff Selection Show in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and lower-profile coverage for the Seminoles’ victory, doubts began to surface for athletics director Michael Alford.
“When I saw Marty Smith covering the Playoff Selection Show from Tuscaloosa, I had a moment of realization: ‘We might not make it,'” Alford shared on the Dusty and Danny In the Morning podcast. “I wasn’t too worried until I saw that. Then it hit me, ‘Okay, we might be out.’ And when Texas was selected, I knew for sure we were out.”
Despite winning eight games against bowl-eligible teams and clinching the conference championship with freshman quarterback Brock Glenn, the Seminoles were overlooked in favor of one-loss teams like Texas and Alabama. The College Football Playoff Committee cited quarterback Jordan Travis’ injury as a contributing factor for their exclusion and a fifth-place ranking.
“The consequences of succumbing to a momentary narrative are profound and permanent, not just for Florida State, but for college football as a whole,” Alford remarked at the time.
“To exclude them from the opportunity to compete for a national championship is an unjustifiable injustice that demonstrates complete disregard for their performance and achievements. It’s unforgivable.”
Alford recalled sensing the possibility of being left out of the College Football Playoff selection. However, he dismissed those concerns after FSU’s ACC Championship win.
“As we were leaving the locker room after the ACC Championship, I overheard a conversation between two players,” Alford recounted.
“One of them said, ‘We’re not going.’ The other player asked why, and the first responded, ‘Follow the money. Alabama won, and we’re not going.’ Hearing that from a player, I brushed it off, telling them, ‘It’s never happened before. We’re 13-0 and conference champions.'”
Alford admitted he was with the team during the ACC Championship game celebration and did not watch the broadcast in real-time. However, upon viewing it later, he noticed concerning discussions about FSU’s offense, Travis’ injury, and Alabama’s victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
