Florida A&M went 9-2, but snubbed from FCS playoffs. Deion Sanders and fans reacted

Florida A&M was one of the teams snubbed from the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs when the bracket was unveiled Sunday.

The Rattlers, whose two losses were to North Carolina, a team heading to the ACC Championship Game, and Jackson State, a team ranked in the FCS’ top 10 poll, were left out in favor of four-loss programs getting at-large berths.

“Obviously a very disappointing day for our program after getting word that we didn’t get invited to the FCS playoffs,” FAMU head coach Willie Simmons said in a video published to social media. “My heart goes out to these young men. They have fought for this program. They have done more than we ever asked. They did what they needed to do on the football field to show that they were deserving of an opportunity to play for a national championship.”

It led to Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member, to question FAMU’s exclusion via social media. Sanders should know after Jackson State beat Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic.

“How is @famufb not in the #FCS playoffs,” Sanders wrote. “Please make me understand a team that only lost to a Power 5 & the 5th rank FCS team not get in? Somebody help me please!!!!! #CoachPrime.”

Jackson State, which finished the regular season undefeated with an 11-0 record, had previously not attempted to get into the FCS playoffs. Instead, the Tigers made plans for the Celebration Bowl.

“I don’t wish that [for an FCS playoff berth] I’m happy with the Celebration Bowl,” said Sanders, according to HBCUSports.com, on Oct. 31. “I’m enthusiastic with the Celebration Bowl. The Celebration Bowl, what they do for us financially, is far greater than what the FCS [playoffs] college bowl game will do for you. I don’t know if we have the resources to travel consistently for three weeks or however long it takes to really be the champions of that.”

According to HBCUSports.com, FCS teams wanting to host playoff games must submit bids for hosting rights, with it costing a minimum of $30,000 for a first-round game, $40,000 for the second round, $50,000 for the quarterfinals and $60,000 for the semifinals.

In addition to Sanders’ reaction, other football fans took to Twitter to react to FAMU’s snub from the FCS playoffs.

Here’s a sample of the reaction: