Texas and Alabama earned the final two spots into the College Football Playoff rankings on Sunday as the four-team field was set.
The 13-member selection committee bypassed unbeaten Florida State (13-0), marking the first time an undefeated power conference champion has missed the field in the CFP era.
Michigan (13-0) earned the No. 1 seed, followed by No. 2 Washington (13-0) in the announcement from Grapevine, Texas.
Two-time defending national champion Georgia (12-1) was passed over after losing 27-24 to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game on Saturday. That result ended the Bulldogs’ 29-game winning streak and dropped them to No. 6 in the rankings.
The Wolverines will face No. 4 seed Alabama (12-1) in the semifinals at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The Huskies will meet No. 3 Texas (12-1) in the Sugar Bowl at New Orleans. Both games are Jan. 1.
Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian will go up against the Washington program he used to lead.
The national championship game is Jan. 8 at Houston.
The Longhorns rolled to a 49-21 win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game on Saturday.
Texas defeated Alabama at Tuscaloosa in September and is playing in the CFP for the first time. It is the Longhorns’ first conference championship since 2009.
Michigan cruised to a 26-0 victory over Iowa in the Big Ten title game on Saturday.
Washington defeated Oregon for the second time this season with a 34-31 triumph in Friday’s Pac-12 title game. The Ducks were in contention for a CFP bid prior to the loss.
Florida State, which wound up with the No. 5 ranking, knocked off Louisville 16-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game without its top two quarterbacks (Jordan Travis, Tate Rodemaker) due to injuries. Brock Glenn quarterbacked the Seminoles against the Cardinals.
Florida State athletic director Michael Alford issued a statement Sunday slamming the committee’s decision to exclude the Seminoles from the playoff.
“Our players, coaches, and fans — as well as all those who love this sport — deserve better,” he said. “The committee failed college football today.”
–Field Level Media