Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has launched an antitrust investigation into the College Football Playoff’s exclusion of undefeated Florida State in favor of 12-1 Alabama.

Moody formally began the investigation Tuesday, looking into “possible contracts, combinations, or conspiracies…relating to anticompetitive effects.” It’s the latest escalation in a series of announcements by state and federal politicians since the Seminoles were left out of the four-team field on Dec. 3.

See also:

• DeSantis budgets $1 million for lawsuit to fight ‘really poor decision’ on CFP
• Trump rips DeSantis’ ‘bad lobbying effort’ for Florida State’s CFP exclusion

“I’m a lifelong Gator, but I’m also the Florida Attorney General, and 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…

“As it stands, the Committee’s decision reeks of partiality, so we are demanding answers — not only for FSU, but for all schools, teams and fans of college football.”

Moody and her office are demanding those answers through a civil investigative demand — essentially a subpoena for civil cases, not criminal ones.

The Seminoles finished 13-0 and won the ACC but were left out of the four-team playoff field. The playoff selection committee instead picked 12-1 Alabama, the SEC champion, for the fourth and final spot. The Crimson Tide joined Michigan, Washington and Texas in the field.

The decision has drawn the interest of state and national politicians, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

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