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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

Florida State wins ACC crown but could miss playoff at 13-0

AP photo by Erik Verduzco / Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske, left, celebrates after sacking Louisville's Jack Plummer during the second half of the ACC championship game Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C.
AP photo by Erik Verduzco / Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske, left, celebrates after sacking Louisville's Jack Plummer during the second half of the ACC championship game Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C. AP photo by Erik Verduzco / Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske, left, celebrates after sacking Louisville's Jack Plummer during the second half of the ACC championship game Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Florida State coach Mike Norvell said the possibility of leaving his unbeaten Seminoles out of the College Football Playoff shouldn’t even be discussed.

It almost certainly will be.

No. 4 Florida State made things as difficult as possible on the CFP selection committee, using a dominant defensive performance to beat No. 15 Louisville 16-6 on Saturday night for the Seminoles’ first Atlantic Coast Conference championship since 2014.

The Seminoles moved to 13-0, but even that doesn’t guarantee a spot in the four-team playoff after Alabama knocked off No. 1 Georgia for the Southeastern Conference title and Texas, the lone team to beat Alabama this season, won the Big 12 crown.

No Power Five team has ever gone unbeaten, won its conference title and failed to make the playoff.