SEC Coach Brings Up Michigan Football Scandal… Again

Last weekend, after Alabama upset Georgia in the SEC title game and the now-No. 1 Wolverines crushed Iowa in the Big Ten title game, the selection committee left Florida State (13-0, ACC Champs) out of the four-team playoff field. Leading up to the semi-finals, SEC coach Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri) had some strong opinions about the decision, including bringing up the Michigan football scandal yet again while arguing in favor of the Seminoles.

SEC Coach makes Connor Stalions reference, brings up Michigan  football scandal while talking CFP

Ever since Michigan football beat Ohio State in “The Game” at the end of November, talks of Connor Stalions and his alleged sign-stealing scheme have calmed down. In fact, Jim Harbaugh has returned to coaching, and it appears that the media is onto new subjects, one of which is Florida State being left out of the College Football Playoff.

That said, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz seems to mention the Wolverines every chance he gets — he has made multiple references to Connor Stalions after games, in press conferences, in ESPN live interviews, and more. Most recently, he hinted at the scandal while talking about Michigan being included in the CFP field while speaking on Sirius XM College Football.

What Eli Drinkwitz said:

“If we’re gonna really have hard conversations, let me ask you this. If a team in the playoff has a star player get injured, are they gonna be removed from the playoff, and then we put Florida State back in?” the SEC Coach of the Year said. “That, to me, was complete nonsensical rationalization. I know I’m an SEC guy, but that one bothered me a whole lot. And to not factor in maybe a team (Michigan) having an unfair advantage in some of their games — it just seemed like, to me, we were picking and choosing what lens we were gonna look through.”

Florida State *should* be in the playoff

Now, I don’t entirely disagree with Drinkwitz’s frustration that Florida State was not allowed into the College Football Playoff; however, Michigan football has done more than enough to prove that it belongs in the CFP field this season.

That said, Drinkwitz has a Cotton Bowl to prepare for (non-playoff) against Ohio State, which will be without most of its stars due to opt-outs and transfers. On the other hand, Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines have a massive Rose Bowl (CFP) looming on January 1 — a game that will determine if Michigan football gets to compete for the national championship.

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