FSU football participates in fall practice 12
FSU football participates in fall practice 12
Mike Norvell, head coach of the Florida State football team, has never been shy about what he wants from his team.
The best.
That claim led to an undefeated regular season last year and the program’s first ACC title since 2014. The Seminoles’ only loss was a loss to Georgia in the Orange Bowl.
As the 2024 regular season approaches, the Seminoles, the reigning ACC champions, are seeking a repeat of the program’s best season in the last decade.
While Jordan Travis, Johnny Wilson, Keon Coleman and Trey Benson are no longer there, there is a new generation of FSU players led by DJ Uiagalelei, Malik Benson and Marvin Jones Jr. looking to make a similar impression as their predecessors.
The foundation was laid for the Seminoles in fall camp, but with an upcoming trip to Dublin, Ireland for an ACC game against Georgia Tech in Week 1, it’s time to take a closer look at the season.
Here’s the best-case scenario for the Seminoles’ season and the reasons for optimism.
Seminoles win ACC title and advance to first 12-team CFP playoff
Best case scenario: Undefeated / 10+ win season, win the ACC title and make the CFP Final Four.
The best-case scenario for the Seminoles’ season is clear.
The Seminoles win their second consecutive ACC title and advance to the later rounds of the inaugural 12-team CFP playoffs. In that scenario, FSU can handle its schedule with relative ease, likely win 10 or more games, and potentially go undefeated for the second year in a row and secure the ACC title.
For that to happen, quarterback DJ Uiagalelei would have to be at his best to lead the offense, and the defense would have to live up to its reputation as one of the best in the country.
An ACC title and an undefeated season gives the program an automatic bye to the second round, and wins over Clemson, Notre Dame, Miami and Florida give the Seminoles experience in big games. The program enters the playoffs with one point after what proved to be a Final Four snub for FSU last season.
The playoffs are unknown, no one knows the impact of expanded 12-team playoffs, and no one yet knows what it means for a team to play in the first round or receive a bye.
However, anything can happen in a playoff environment, and in this scenario, the Seminoles will likely face Texas, Oregon or Ohio State in the quarterfinals or semifinals, or get a rematch against Georgia. Anything can happen in such a game, but it would be the biggest challenge FSU would face all season.
Reason for optimism for the 2024 Seminoles team
The Seminoles’ defense will likely be one of the best in the country, and this unit will be able to contain FSU in almost every game this season when the offense falters, and will likely score a few points to help out.
The real optimism comes from defensive backs Fentrell Cypress, Azareye’h Thomas and Shyheim Brown. They all look like NFL talent and have been covering the wide receivers tightly during fall camp, making impressive plays, disrupting the passing game and showing a good eye for interceptions.
Combine that unit with a defense that includes Joshua Farmer, Darrell Jackson, Patrick Payton and Marvin Jones Jr., and the defense could be exceptional and a major reason why the Seminoles are one of the last teams standing come playoff time.
The running backs appear to be at a high level, and if Uiagalelei can maintain the form he showed last season for Oregon State, there is a lot of potential for the FSU offense. His connection with wide receiver Malik Benson and tight end Kyle Morlcok appears to be strong.
Speed is a huge strength of players at the skill positions, which could be key to allowing Uiagalelei or Brock Glenn to show off their deep passes and break down defensive coverages. The wide receiver room is full of speed and the group found its rhythm late in fall camp and may be peaking at the right time.
With the duo of Benson and Jalen Brown, the Seminoles have two players who can lead a defense but are also skilled short-range route runners.
The final reason for optimism is the coaching staff. Norvell is the reigning national coach of the year and has turned the Seminoles back into a contender during his tenure.
By retaining last year’s personnel and adding some key reinforcements to the coaching staff, such as Ernie Sims and Rick Stockstill, the cohesion and consistency of the staff means everyone knows what to expect and can prepare in detail.
The Seminoles have high goals to achieve this season, and the first step will be on August 24 against Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland.
How to watch FSU vs Georgia Tech
- Date: Saturday, August 24
- Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+ ($10.99 per month), WatchESPN and the ESPN app (TV provider subscription required), fuboTV (7-day free trial), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)
FSU Football Schedule 2024
Liam Rooney covers sports prep for the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach him via email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @__liamrooney
