Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody launched an antitrust investigation into undefeated Florida State’s exclusion from the College Football Playoff in favor of 12-1 Alabama.
Moody’s formally launched the investigation on Tuesday, looking into “possible contracts, combinations or conspiracies…related to anticompetitive effects.”
“I support the alligator for life, but I am also the Attorney General of Florida, and I know injustice when I see it,” Moody said in a statement. “No rational person or college football fan can look at this situation and not question the outcome…
“As it stands, the committee’s decision reeks of bias, so we are demanding answers — not just for FSU, but for all schools, teams and fans of college football.”
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Moody and her office are demanding those answers by requesting a civil investigation, which is essentially a subpoena for civil cases, not criminal. Office requests include:
• Information about communications regarding “availability of key players and coaches” during committee deliberations. This is important because committee chairman Beau Corrigan pointed to the injury to NFL star Jordan Travis as a major reason why Alabama jumped the Seminoles.
• Individual and collective votes of the committee, in addition to memorandums and other relevant documents.
• Communications to/from the ACC, SEC, ESPN, or NCAA about the deliberations.
• Informational talking points or interview notes.
• Documents or communications about conference “restrictions” versus alternative playoff schedules.
• Information about any protests or boycotts related to major matches or playoffs.
• Any internal communications about the Power Five Conferences and the composition of the Big Bowl and playoff games.
Moody has given the College Football Playoff until Dec. 26 to begin answering with a Jan. 11 deadline.
The playoff is managed by CFP Management, LLC, headquartered in Irving, Texas, outside of Dallas.
“We will review this request for information carefully, but it certainly appears to be an overly aggressive response to college football’s rankings, where it was inevitable that some fans somewhere would be disappointed,” Bill Hancock, the playoffs’ executive director, said in a statement.
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FSU entered the conference tournament weekend ranked fourth by the playoff selection committee. The Seminoles beat No. 14 Louisville to win the ACC title and improve to 13-0 but were edged out in the final seeding by one loss at Alabama, which upset No. 1 Georgia in the SEC championship game.
The Crimson Tide earned the fourth and final berth, joining undefeated Big Ten champion Michigan, undefeated Pac-12 champion Washington and 12-1 Big 12 champion Texas. This was the first time an undefeated champion from a major conference had been eliminated from the playoffs or its predecessor, the Bowl Championship Series, in favor of a one-loss team.
The decision has drawn scrutiny from some of the state’s most senior politicians.
US Senator Rick Scott has called for more transparency on the part of the CFP and its committee while requesting documents similar to those sought by Moody’s agency. Gov. Ron DeSantis allocated $1 million in his proposed budget for potential litigation. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis — whose district includes Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties — requested a briefing from the NCAA and the select committee in his role as chairman of the House Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee.
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The office of the Florida Attorney General is currently undertaking an investigation into potential contemptuous behavior related to NFL football. This probe comes amidst growing concerns about the conduct of NFL athletes, officials, and teams, and the potential impact of this behavior on the public and the integrity of the sport. As the investigation unfolds, the Attorney General is expected to scrutinize various aspects of the NFL, including player misconduct, league policies, and the overall management of the sport in Florida. With the potential for significant consequences, this investigation has captured the attention of NFL fans and stakeholders across the state.