What we learned from the thrilling College Football Playoff semifinals

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The conversation leading to the College Football Playoff semifinals on New Year’s Day largely focused on who wouldn’t be playing. 

Undefeated ACC champion Florida State was left out of the CFP due to star quarterback Jordan Travis missing the rest of the season after a serious leg injury late in the season. 

Florida State players pose after defeating Louisville in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, Dec. 2, 2023, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

The rage coming from Tallahassee was palpable, as was the anger of many within the college football world. 

"Win and you’re in" is the usual thinking in sports, so an undefeated Power 5 conference champion missing out on a chance for a national championship was unthinkable. 

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And yet, two things can be true at once. 

Florida State sitting at home without a loss was a bad look, and the College Football Playoff committee gave fans two thrilling matchups. 

Michigan rallied late in the fourth quarter before stopping Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on fourth-and-goal in overtime to continue on their "us against the world" march, and the Washington Huskies barely avoided an all-time collapse to keep the existence of the Pac-12 alive for one more week. 

Let’s look at what was learned on Monday as the final edition of the four-team CFP reaches its end. 

The 2023 Heisman Trophy went to LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels after the senior had a spectacular statistical season. 

Daniels single-handedly carried the Tigers, throwing for 40 touchdowns and adding 1,134 yards and 10 scores on