Ron DeSantis Willing to Spend $1 Million on FSU After Trump Attack

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is putting aside $1 million of his state's money for a potential lawsuit over Florida State University (FSU) being excluded from the College Football Playoff tournament.

DeSantis, who is challenging former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, announced that he would be including the money for a lawsuit as part of Florida's 2024-2025 budget on Tuesday, one day after the ex-president urged his supporters to "blame" the governor for the snub.

"Florida State was treated very badly by the 'Committee,'" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday. "They become the first Power Five team to be left out of the College Football Playoffs. Really bad lobbying effort...Let's blame DeSanctimonious!!!"

DeSantis did not mention Trump's remarks but said during a press conference announcing his budget that the snub was a "really, really poor decision," while vowing to fund any related legal action. Whether or not Florida or FSU are planning on filing a lawsuit, as well as the basis of any potential suit, remains unclear.

"We had one of our schools, Florida State, go undefeated this year and win the conference championship," DeSantis said. "And they earned a spot in the College Football Playoffs. And they were excluded from that...I think it was something that's been very, very controversial.

"I don't know what all goes into that decision-making," he continued. "We're setting aside a million dollars for any litigation expenses that may come as a result of this really, really poor decision... It's unfortunate that we have to even do that, but we are going to put aside a million dollars and let the chips fall where they may."

Newsweek reached out for comment to FSU and College Football Playoff via email on Tuesday.

The decision to exclude FSU, which had a 13-0 record and earned the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) title this year, was highly controversial. FSU landed at No. 5 in the College Football Playoff selection committee's final rankings, with Alabama instead nabbing the final spot in the four-team tournament.

Selection committee chair Boo Corrigan defended the decision to snub FSU during an ESPN interview on Sunday, arguing that the team was "different" due to the absence of injured players like star quarterback Jordan Travis.

"Florida State is a different team than they were through the first 11 weeks," Corrigan said. "As you look at who they are as a team right now without Jordan Travis, without the offensive dynamic that he brings to it, they are a different team. And the committee voted Alabama four and Florida State five."

FSU athletic director Michael Alford said in a statement that the committee's "unforgivable" decision was "destructive, far reaching, and permanent," arguing that it "significantly damages the legitimacy of the College Football Playoff."