Legal tackle? Florida AG opens ‘antitrust investigation’ into college football playoff

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has announced that she has opened an official antitrust investigation into undefeated Florida State being left out of the College Football Playoff behind 12-1 Alabama and Texas.

It is just the latest in a string of politicians getting involved in college athletics. Florida governor Ron DeSantis last week stated that he was budgeting $1 million for “litigation expenses” that will result out of the Florida State decision.

On the antitrust investigation, Moody is looking for “possible contracts, conspiracies in restraint of trade or monopolization of trade and commerce relating to anticompetitive effects of the College Football Playoff.”

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“I know injustice when I see it,” Moody said in a statement. “No rational person or college football fan can look at this situation and not question the result. The NCAA, conferences, and the College Football Playoff Committee are subject to antitrust laws.”

In all likelihood, this will not result in anything tangible, but it’s noteworthy to see multiple high-level public officials politicize the playoff process on behalf of their constituents’ crushed hopes.

The Seminoles were the first undefeated Power Five conference champion to be left out of the College Football Playoff in what was a unique year for the format overall.

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The Georgia Bulldogs also became the first team rankled No. 1 headed into the final week to drop out of the top four completely, while Alabama and Texas became the first teams ranked below No. 6 to move into the top four in the final week.

Next season, college football moves to a 12-team playoff format — and while there will still be debate as to who gets in and who gets left out — we will likely never see a situation like this one ever again.