The College Football Playoff (CFP) Committee revealed its semifinal matchups, with Michigan facing Alabama in the Rose Bowl and Washington set to play Texas in the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2024. This year’s selection generated significant controversy, as unbeaten Florida State, the ACC Champion, was left out despite a perfect season. The Seminoles were affected by the season-ending injury of star quarterback Jordan Travis, which reportedly influenced the committee’s decision to exclude them from the top four, as they considered the impact on Florida State’s competitiveness.
The inclusion of Alabama, following their win over Georgia in the SEC Championship, continued the SEC’s playoff streak, while Texas secured their spot after a successful season, including a notable win over Alabama earlier in the year. Texas’s CFP appearance marks their first and final as a Big 12 member, as they prepare to join the SEC next season. Michigan, the Big Ten champion, is returning to the CFP for the third straight year, while Washington breaks a six-year playoff drought for the Pac-12 in their last year before moving to the Big Ten.
This playoff lineup adds unique storylines for both traditional powers and newcomers, with debates likely to persist about the criteria used to evaluate teams as the CFP expands to 12 teams next year, which should reduce controversies of this nature in future seasons【27†source】【28†source】.