The Florida State Seminoles are at a critical point in their gridiron history. They have lost 17 of their last 24 games over the past two seasons. Last season, they shocked the college football world by beating the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 1 by two touchdowns. However, by Week 4, a promising season fell to the turf with a resounding thud as the Seminoles finished 5-7.
This season, the schedule is a gauntlet consisting of four teams ranked in this season’s Top 25 Coaches Poll, and two other teams that narrowly missed making the cut. It is a murderer’s row of gridiron excellence, winning a combined 53 games last season.
Advertisement
Phil Steele ranks the SMU Mustangs as the No. 2 team in the ACC, behind the Miami Hurricanes. Under 5th-year head coach Rhett Lashlee, the Mustangs have won 70 percent of their games, posting a 38-16 record.
SMU returns its starting quarterback in Kevin Jennings, who passed for over 3,600 yards and accounted for 30 touchdowns. Lashlee also brought in running back Kendrick Raphael from Cal, who scored 13 rushing touchdowns for the Bears last season.
On defense, the Mustangs return five starters from a unit that ranked No. 1 in the ACC in rushing touchdowns allowed with five. They allowed just 3.19 yards per carry. Florida State coach Mike Norvell cannot afford to be one-dimensional against SMU. He will need to turn the pages in the playbook and mix it up against an opportunistic Mustangs defense.
Advertisement
When was the last time an Alabama Crimson Tide team was ranked outside the top ten in a preseason football poll? In Nick Saban’s second season in Tuscaloosa, 2008, the Crimson Tide was ranked No. 24 in the preseason. In Kalen DeBoer’s tenure, Alabama’s preseason rankings have been No. 5 in 2024 and No. 8 last season.
DeBoer did not name a starting quarterback after spring practice, opting to use fall camp as a proving ground for separation between two QB1 candidates, Austin Mack and freshman phenom Keelon Russell. Mack followed DeBoer from Washington and knows the system, but Russell may be too talented to leave him on the sideline holding a clipboard.
Alabama is considered to be the No. 3 team in the SEC, behind Georgia and Texas. They return only three starters from last year’s offense, including receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams. Williams took a step back last season, compared to his 2024 campaign. He produced 176 fewer receiving yards, and his touchdown numbers were cut in half (from eight down to four). The defense, however, returns seven starters.
Advertisement
As the national runner-up, losing to the Indiana Hoosiers in the title game last season, it is not hard to imagine the Miami Hurricanes being the team to beat in the ACC this season.
Miami’s offense is loaded at the skill positions, with Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah now calling the plays in the huddle for the Hurricanes. They also return receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher. Add Mensah’s battery mate, Cooper Barkate, from Duke and the Hurricanes represent the toughest game on the Seminoles’ schedule this season.
In 17 full seasons with Dabo Swinney as head coach at Clemson, the Tigers failed to win 10 games in a season for only the fourth time. Despite that, the Tigers lost nine players to the NFL Draft, tying a school record and tying for the most draft picks from the ACC.
Advertisement
The chink in Clemson’s armor this season could be a new starter at quarterback for the first time since the 2022 season, Chris Vizzina. Vizzina has completed 54 passes and thrown four touchdowns in 12 games of experience. Under Norvell, Florida State has beaten Clemson only once.
The Cardinals received 153 votes and just missed landing in the Top 25 Coaches Poll. Louisville is 28-12 (.700) under head coach and former Cardinals quarterback Jeff Brohm. Brohm will start a transfer quarterback for the fourth straight season. This time it will be former Ohio State signal-caller Lincoln Kienholz.
Kienholz saw action in seven games last season for the Buckeyes, throwing for 139 yards and a touchdown. Also, Brohm re-recruited star running back Isaac Brown from the transfer portal. Brown rushed for 884 yards and seven touchdowns, and he averaged a whopping 8.76 yards per carry. Brohm’s offense returns nine starters this season, and probably will not be left out of the top 25 for long once the season starts.
Advertisement
Florida also missed the Top 25 after receiving 147 votes. Billy Napier is out, former Tulane coach Jon Sumrall is in. DJ Lagway is out as quarterback of the Gators, and who will replace him is unclear. Florida returns star running back Jaden Baugh, who rushed for over 1,100 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
Sumrall was impressive at SEC Media Days and will have his team ready to play. He brings in Buster Faulkner from Georgia Tech as his offensive coordinator. Faulkner coached the Yellow Jackets to a No. 11 national ranking in total offense. The Seminoles have lost the last two meetings, and five of the last seven to the hated Gators.
