While there have been rumblings all year that Florida State is interested in leaving the ACC, it seems the program’s shocking exclusion from this season’s college football playoffs was reportedly “the last straw” in their chances of remaining in the conference long-term.
On Dec. 30 the Florida State Seminoles football team will return to action in the Orange Bowl against 2021 and 2022 national champions Georgia. Outside of the college football playoff matchups, it is the biggest game on the bowl season schedule. Yet, as FSU attempts to complete an undefeated season the game will be a bitter-sweet occasion for many involved with the program.
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To the surprise of many around the sport, the Seminoles were left out of the CFP this year despite owning a 13-0 record and winning the ACC championship. Usually, winning the conference title for a Power Five conference would mean a guaranteed invite to the playoffs. However, that was not the case, and the committee instead gave that spot to the one-loss Alabama Crimson Tide.
It was an unexpected decision that led to discussions around college football about the playoff process ahead of plans to expand to 12 teams in 2024. However, it seems that their exclusion has led to different discussions in the offices at Florida State.
Florida State contractually bound to ACC until 2036
On Tuesday, ESPN ACC reporter Andrea Adelson claimed that “Florida State has had renewed in-depth discussions about its long-term future in the ACC in recent weeks, with talks reignited following the Seminoles’ omission from the College Football Playoff earlier this month.”
Being left out of the playoffs allegedly “angered” some members of the board of trustees and after a year of airing their frustrations with the conference, the snub was “the last straw” and it created a renewed push to leave their long-time home.
Adelson does note a board meeting has not been called yet, and it is far from a guarantee that the Seminoles depart the conference anytime soon. Nevertheless, the situation has only intensified the frustration for some at Florida State.
While the Pac-12 fell apart quickly in the last year, it will be difficult for FSU to leave the ACC. They are bound to the conference due to a grants-of-rights deal that lasts until 2036, and trying to break that agreement could lead to a penalty that is worth well over $100 million.