Let's take a look at FSU football.
Best / Worse Case Record for :
Louisville | Virginia | Miami | Duke | Georgia Tech | Boston College | Pittsburgh | Virginia Tech | NC State | Clemson | Syracuse | North Carolina | Wake Forest
Florida State
Let’s be honest the Florida State program was starting to stagnate under Jimbo Fisher. Maybe he could have turned it around, but maybe not. What is for sure is that Clemson has surpassed Florida State as the ACC’s premier program. The Noles needed an infusion of new energy, so it may not have been the worst thing that Fisher left Texas A&M. Enter Willie Taggart – who has linked FSU to their past… even bringing back former DC Mickey Andrews in a football support capacity. We know what the Florida State program is capable of. The only question is how long will it take Taggart to get the Noles back to being a playoff caliber football team? Is there any chance it could happen in year 1 of his tenure?
Will Go 10-2 (6-2) if:
The Noles offense can quickly take to Willie Taggert’s up-tempo offensive style. FSU still hasn’t settled on a quarterback. It will either be Deondre Francois or James Blackman, and that’s yet to be decided. If FSU is to have a big year, winning their opening game against Virginia Tech is a must. That would likely lead the Noles to a 4-1, possibly 5-0 start before heading to Miami. FSU has 5 very difficult games – Virginia Tech, at Miami, Clemson, at NC State, and at Notre Dame. FSU has enough talent to go 3-2 in those 5 games, and win out the rest.
The offensive line has to be much better than in recent years. If they can be, the Noles have a shot to be fringe playoff caliber team.
Will Go 7-5 (4-4) if:
It takes some time for the FSU players to adapt to new offensive and defensive schemes. Kirby Smart inherited a lot of talent at Georgia, but went 8-5 in his first year in Athens. We could see something similar at FSU. The schedule does Florida State no favors. We’ve already went over the 5 most difficult games – Virginia Tech, at Miami, Clemson, at NC State, and at Notre Dame. It’s not out of the question FSU could end up 1-4 or 0-5 in those games.
There’s a road game at always dangerous Syracuse, and at Louisville. Wake Forest, BC, and Florida even in Tallahassee are no gimmes either. The QB, and offensive line are huge question marks. The defense will have a number of new starters, how good will it be?
