The College Football Playoff committee was forced to make its hardest decision in their ten-year history. Six college football teams had strong cases to be in the playoffs: five won their conferences, three were undefeated, and all had wins against top-caliber opponents. Unfortunately, the playoff only has room for four teams, and that means two deserving squads had to be excluded. Those two unlucky schools were Georgia, which was the #1 ranked team in the country for almost the entire season, and Florida State (FSU), the most controversial playoff snub of all time.

Georgia was the undisputed top team in the nation for most of the year. Coming off two consecutive national championships, their roster and coaching staff were top tier. Despite some bumps earlier in the season against Auburn and Missouri, they went into the ACC championship game undefeated and as the top ranked squad in the country. In a grueling matchup that had a playoff aura around it, Alabama emerged victorious by just three points. The question remained: was this loss enough to drop the top team in the nation from the playoffs? To the dismay of Georgia fans, the college football playoff committee decided that it was.

Florida State had exceeded all expectations through the entire season. Their conference, the ACC, was considered one of the most prestigious for college football in the nation. FSU went undefeated and won their conference, which in any other year would automatically punch a ticket to the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, weaknesses sprang up on their roster as the playoffs drew near. Their star quarterback, Jordan Travis, went down with a gruesome leg injury in November, ending his season and hindering FSU’s offensive play in future weeks. Still, they were ranked in the top four in the Associated Press’s team rankings going into the fateful Selection Sunday, when the playoff teams were revealed. Unfortunately for Florida State, they were leapfrogged by Texas and Alabama who swiped the 3rd and 4th seeds after impressive wins in their conference championships while FSU only had an unconvincing win against Louisville that week. Florida State’s team, school, conference, and fans were all outraged at the decision, along with a good portion of sports media. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips stated, “Their exclusion calls into question the selection process and whether the Committee’s own guidelines were followed.”

Despite the controversy, all eyes eventually turned to the four selected squads. The stage was set for a competitive playoffs with no weak link. The first game was 1-seed undefeated Michigan versus the dynasty, Alabama. After the teams traded scores in the first quarter, the game slowed down and Michigan went into halftime with a three point lead. After a quiet third period, Alabama jumped ahead with two scores that left Michigan down 7 with four minutes left. After a clutch drive and defensive stop, Michigan sent the game into overtime. They then rumbled down the field after running back Blake Corum’s tough running to go up by a score. It all came down to an Alabama fourth and goal where quarterback Jalen Milroe was stuffed on a run up the middle, and Michigan emerged victorious.

Next, the Allstate Sugar Bowl between Washington and Texas was a shootout from the start. The teams traded touchdowns for two quarters and went into the break at 21 points apiece. Washington then drew ahead in the third quarter to take a 34-21 lead, but Texas drove twice down the field to get within 6. With one minute left, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers drove his team into the red zone attempting to win the game. Unfortunately for his team, receiver Adonai Mitchell couldn’t come down with a game winning grab as time expired and Washington prevailed to face Michigan in the national championship.

Those two games were both much more exciting than the final championship game that followed them. After two 40+ yard rush touchdowns by Donovan Edwards, Michigan was up 17-3 and never looked back. Despite Washington trying their best to get back into the game before halftime, Michigan’s rushing attack was too much for the Huskies to handle, and Blake Corum again paved the way for a 34-13 Michigan win. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy and coach Jim Harbaugh finished likely both of their last games in college football and rode off into the sunset, capping off a both controversial and captivating season.