Paul Finebaum takes a subtle shot at Florida State going into 2024

Last season, the storyline surrounding the four-team College Football Playoff was when Florida State finished the regular season at 12-0, then beat Louisville in the ACC Championship Game only to be left out of the CFP. Why was a Power 5 undefeated team left out of the CFP after checking all the boxes teams need to do to get in?

FSU star quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury in November and following the selection of Michigan, Alabama, Texas, and Washington to the playoff. Committee chair Boo Corrigan said FSU was left out, in part, because it's not the same team without Travis. Of course, a team that loses a starting QB as talented as Travis is not going to be the same team, but the postseason snub seemed like a punishment for doing what they were supposed to do.

Rightfully so, head coach Mike Norvell was upset with the playoff snub and was vocal about it. Apparently, Paul Finebaum of ESPN took receipts. He took a subtle shot at Florida State and even dropped what could be considered a bold prediction.

Paul Finebaum thinks Florida State will finish the season unranked

Florida State came in at No. 10 in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 Poll Monday and Finebaum thinks the Seminoles will finish the season unranked while taking a subtle, but joking shot at them.

"I think they used up too many tears crying about not getting in the playoffs," Finebaum said. "That may slow them down a little bit." 

You have to think that Norvell and the Seminoles have moved on from last season's snub, but to expect them to have a major free fall in 2024 is a bit of a stretch. Could they lose a couple games and not play for an ACC title? Yes, could they free fall all the way out of the Top 25 by the end of the season? We'll see.