In a shocking turn of events, the College Football Playoff selection committee made history by leaving out an undefeated power conference champion for the first time in the playoff's existence. Despite a perfect 13-0 record and an ACC title, the Florida State Seminoles were left out of the final four after star quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a severe leg injury in a game against North Alabama.

The committee's decision drew strong criticism, with Florida State Athletic Director Michael Alford calling it an "unwarranted injustice" and accusing the committee of disregarding and disrespecting the team's performance and accomplishments. The Seminoles' exclusion marked the first time that an undefeated team from a major Power-5 conference had been left out of the playoffs since its inception in 2014.

While Florida State's offense struggled without Travis, they managed to secure a low-scoring victory over the Louisville Cardinals in the ACC title game. However, it was not enough to convince the committee of their playoff worthiness.

The top two seeds in the playoff went to the undefeated Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies. Michigan, with a perfect 13-0 record, secured the top spot, while Washington, also undefeated at 13-0, claimed the second seed. Both teams had impressive conference championship wins and had been dominant throughout the season.

In the semifinal matchups set for January 1, Michigan will face off against Alabama at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, while Washington will take on Texas at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Alabama, despite having one loss, was chosen over Florida State due to their strong performance in the SEC championship game, where they defeated the previously top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, ending their 29-game winning streak.

Texas, the Big 12 champion, secured their spot in the playoffs with a dominant win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys and will be making their first playoff appearance. However, their road to the playoffs was not without controversy, as they had previously lost to Oklahoma and struggled in close victories against TCU and Kansas State.

The winners of the semifinal games will face off in the national championship game on January 8 at NRG Stadium in Houston. This will be the final year of the four-team playoff format, as the College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams in 2024.

The committee's decision to leave out Florida State and Georgia, the two-time defending national champions, sparked debate and controversy. Ultimately, the committee prioritized the strength of the teams' bodies of work rather than their previous championship success. This year's selection process proved to be challenging, with six deserving teams vying for only four spots in the playoff.