The metaphorical white puffs of smoke sent up by the College Football Playoff selection committee on Sunday signaled that the panel had chosen the four teams that would vie for this season’s championship — and that Florida State, unbeaten champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference, was not among them. This caused smoke of a different sort to emanate from the Seminoles’ ears. Florida State’s résumé was hard to beat. The Seminoles began the season by walloping Louisiana State, which was led by the presumptive Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Seminoles’ only shortcoming was being shorthanded: Their star quarterback, Jordan Travis, broke his leg last month against North Alabama.

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Persons: résumé, Jayden Daniels, Jordan Travis, Tate Rodemaker, Brock Glenn Organizations: College Football, Florida State, Atlantic Coast Conference, Seminoles, walloping Louisiana State, Clemson, persevering, Michigan, North, Louisville Locations: Florida, Washington, Texas, Alabama, North Alabama