Mike Norvell on FSU's CFP hopes: 'I don't think there is a conversation'

Mike Norvell isn’t here to debate. After Florida State defeated Louisville 16-6 in the ACC Championship to finish with a 13-0 record, the Seminoles’ head coach weighed in on the possibility of his team being excluded from the College Football Playoff.

“It’s entertainment in some things to be able to have the conversation, but I don’t think there is a conversation,” Norvell said. “We’re at Florida State. We open up a season with LSU on the road, maybe a Heisman Trophy candidate, maybe winner in their quarterback that — you know, we showed what we were about then defensively, special teams-wise, offense, the talent that we have.

“The way that we’ve won games. To go on the road at Clemson. Nobody else was able to accomplish that. Some ranked teams went in there, but we were the only team that was able to beat them on the road, and it was tough.

“We’ve been down in games. We’ve been down 10 points I think in three or four different games, and we responded. It’s not just like we came back — we came back and finished games. We came back and were able to do the things necessary to achieve victory.”

The argument against Florida State

If Florida State starting quarterback Jordan Travis was still healthy, there would not be a conversation. However, he isn’t. Travis went down with a season-ending injury in FSU’s Week 12 victory over North Alabama.

The Seminoles’ misfortune didn’t stop there. In FSU’s Week 13 win over in-state rival Florida, backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker suffered a brutal hit. Although Rodemaker finished the game, the collision took a toll on him. He did not play in the ACC Championship.

Mike Norvell refuses to back down

Despite its slew of injuries, Florida State finished the regular season undefeated. The Seminoles are one of only three Power Five teams to do so, including Michigan and Washington. They will undoubtedly be in the CFP. Norvell believes FSU should receive the same treatment, no matter what his depth chart looks like.

“I don’t think there is a conversation,” Norvell said. “This is a team that is well deserving. This is a team that has earned it. This is a team that has showed up consistently and proven that they have what it takes to win, and we’ve done it against more Power Five bowl eligible teams than anybody else out there.

“I don’t want to hear about the schedule. Actually we schedule a tough non-conference. We put ourselves out there, and then you embrace it in how you go about your business. This team, they’ve earned it. Like I said, each week it changes what’s the hot team or the most talented team, but then when they lose a game, there’s a reason. This team has all the ability, and they just get it done.”