Florida attorney general to investigate Florida State's CFP snub

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is launching an antitrust investigation into the College Football Playoff's exclusion of Florida State.

"I'm a lifelong Gator, but I'm also the Florida attorney general, and I know injustice when I see it," Moody said Tuesday in a news release. "No rational person or college football fan can look at this situation and not question the result. The NCAA, conferences, and the College Football Playoff committee are subject to antitrust laws.

"My office is launching an investigation to examine if the committee was involved in any anticompetitive conduct. As it stands, the committee's decision reeks of partiality, so we are demanding answers - not only for FSU but for all schools, teams, and fans of college football."

The Seminoles went 13-0 during the regular season and defeated Louisville to win the ACC championship. Yet, Florida State became the first Power 5 program ever to be excluded from the CFP after going undefeated and winning their conference title game.

The investigation into the CFP will look into "possible contracts, combinations, or conspiracies relating to anticompetitive effects." The AG's office is also seeking all communication related to the deliberation, documents showing compensation for members of the committee, and vote tallies, including those who had access to the voting within the CFP.

CFP committee chair Boo Corrigan pointed to Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis' season-ending injury as the significant factor in the decision to exclude FSU. Two one-loss teams in Texas and Alabama were selected ahead of the Seminoles, while undefeated Michigan and Washington took the other two spots.

The investigation comes a week after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that he would set aside $1 million for FSU to sue the CFP committee for its omission. DeSantis' plan hinges on the approval of the Florida legislature, which begins its new session next month.

While Moody said she doesn't expect the investigation to reverse the committee's decision, she maintained that all FBS schools within the state should know if the committee is operating with a bias.

"In Florida, merit matters. And if it's attention they were looking for, the CFP committee certainly has our attention now," Moody said.