ESPN announcer rips ‘chaos’ of ‘broken’ college football business

ESPN announcer Joe Tessitore had a lot to say after Florida State’s humiliating 63-3 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday in the Orange Bowl at Miami Gardens, Fla.

“The business of college football, the infrastructure of college football, is broken,” Tessitore said during the fourth quarter.

The Seminoles were down more than twenty players due to injury, opt-outs and the transfer portal, which Tessitore says is the reason for Florida State’s loss.

“The calendar, where you have the transfer portal, the early signing date, the coaches’ turmoil and silly season of hiring and firing, of players coming and going while you’re trying to bowl prep — that is pure chaos,” Tessitore said.

Georgia lineman Warren Brinson saw the writing on the wall early on, and even went live on Instagram before the game was over.

The majority of Florida State starters, including major names such as wide receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson and defensive lineman Jared Verse, Fabien Lovett and Braden Fiske opted not to play Saturday.

The players made their decisions after the Seminoles were not selected for the College Football Playoff despite having an undefeated season and winning a Power 5 conference championship.

College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock explained in a letter addressed to US Senator Rick Scott that the decision was based off of Florida State’s injuries — including the loss of starting quarterback Jordan Travis to an injury in November — and strength of schedule.

In the letter, Hancock wrote that the College Football Playoff committee decided the Seminoles were “not the same team without (their) star quarterback.”

Florida State fans were initially outraged by the decision, but after Saturday’s Orange Bowl blowout to Georgia — which was also left outside the playoffs — the fans may have changed their tune.

The College Football Playoff Committee announced last month that 12 teams will make it to the playoffs for the 2024-2025 season, which the committee hopes will bring more access and excitement for college football fans.

“We’re delighted to be moving forward,” Hancock said. “When the board expanded the playoff beginning in 2026 and asked the CFP Management Committee to examine the feasibility of starting the new format earlier, the Management Committee went right to work.”