In a shocking turn of events, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee is now facing an investigation in Florida over its decision to exclude the Florida State Seminoles from the four-team field. The state's Attorney General, Ashley Moody, announced on Tuesday that they are seeking to determine whether any anticompetitive conduct was involved in this controversial move.

Despite finishing the season with an impressive 13-0 record and winning the ACC Championship, the Seminoles were left out of the playoffs in favor of Alabama and Texas, both of which had one loss during the season. CFP officials justified their decision by pointing to the team's current make-up, suggesting that it didn't meet the criteria to be included.

Attorney General Moody, a self-proclaimed lifelong Gator but also the Florida attorney general, expressed her concerns in a video posted on social media. She stated, "No rational person or college football fan can look at this situation and not question the result." Moody emphasized that the NCAA, conferences, and the College Football Playoff committee are subject to antitrust laws and that her office would investigate any potential anticompetitive conduct.

The investigation is not limited to the CFP Selection Committee alone. Officials are also seeking communications from various entities, including the SEC, ACC, NCAA, ESPN, Group of Five Conferences, and Power Five Conferences. Moody's goal is to ensure transparency and fairness not just for Florida State but for all schools, teams, and fans of college football. She asserted that in Florida, merit matters and demanded answers from the committee.

The committee, however, claims that they have not received any communication from the attorney general's office. College Football Playoff executive director, Bill Hancock, responded by saying, "We will carefully review this demand for information, but it sure seems to be an overly aggressive reaction to a college football ranking in which some fans somewhere were bound to be disappointed."

Senator Rick Scott of Florida, a Republican, supported Moody's investigation and expressed his frustration with the lack of transparency from the Selection Committee. He welcomed Moody's efforts to hold them accountable and demanded more transparency.

This investigation by Florida's attorney general comes after Governor Ron DeSantis allocated $1 million from the state budget for Florida State University to sue the College Football Playoff. Senator Scott had also previously sent a letter to Selection Committee Chairman Boo Corrigan, demanding transparency in the decision-making process.

Fans and analysts have speculated on possible reasons behind the committee's decision. Some theories suggest that the exclusion of Florida State may be related to star quarterback Jordan Travis' season-ending leg injury. Others question if it could be part of a money grab following the SEC's massive $3 billion television deal with ESPN.

It is important to note that the College Football Playoff's selection committee consists of athletic directors from various universities, retired coaches, former players, and even a veteran sports reporter-turned-professor. The committee announced in December 2022 that the 2024-2025 season will see a switch to a 12-team playoff tournament, expanding from the current four-team format.

As the investigation unfolds, the college football world waits eagerly for answers and hopes for greater transparency in the selection process. The decision to exclude an undefeated Florida State team from the playoffs has ignited debates about fairness and competition, emphasizing the importance of merit in the world of college football.