Chairman Bilirakis Demands Full Transparency in Fight to Protect Integrity of College Sports
Washington, DC: On Sunday, December 3rd, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee made the unusual decision to exclude an undefeated, Power Five Conference Champion from the College Football Playoff (CFP), instead selecting schools with lesser records to compete in the CFP Playoff Semifinals. The Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles finished the 2023 season with a perfect 13-0 record but were dropped from their previous 4th place ranking to 5th place by the CFP Selection Committee, a decision that prevented them from competition for the CFP National Championship. Chairman Gus Bilirakis of the Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, which has jurisdiction over the regulation of commercial practices, including sports-related matters, issued the statement below in response to the CFP’s decision.
“This is a huge blow to the student-athletes who have put their hearts and minds into completing a perfect season. While I understand there are many factors the Committee may consider, it’s puzzling why the end results on the field are not their top priority as they are the only objective measurement between teams. The CFP Selection Committee elevated teams with lesser records over an undefeated Power 5 conference champion. When there are millions of dollars hanging in the balance, and with many of these funds slated to support publicly funded schools, there must be more transparency in the process when deciding who is in and who is out. To ensure full transparency, I respectfully request that the CFP Selection Committee and separately the NCAA schedule a briefing with my office,” said Chairman Gus Bilirakis.