FSU Football: Analyzing First CFB Playoff Ranking For The Noles
By Brad Johnson
FSU football found themselves ranked in the first Top 25 of the college football playoff poll of the 2016 season, and we break down what it means.
The first set of College Football Playoff rankings were released earlier this week and the Florida State Seminoles are sitting at No. 22. While the team has a slightly higher ranking in the other polls, they can’t complain about their spot too much.
Florida State entered the season as one of the favorites to advance to the College Football Playoff, but they have no chance now thanks to three losses and no signature wins. Their matchup with rival Miami was chalked up to be one of the best of the season with great implications, but Miami’s numerous subsequent losses took the value out of that win for the Seminoles.
The Florida State Seminoles have the talent to beat any team in college football, but they have not been able to get the right results on the field. The talent of the team was on display during their three-point loss to the Clemson Tigers last week. If it was not for a late fourth quarter touchdown, Florida State would have defeated the 3rd ranked team in the country.
The talent of Florida State is the only thing that put them in the College Football Playoff rankings; their record is certainly not deserving. Florida State is the only team with three losses to make it into the rankings. They are also sitting one spot ahead of an undefeated Western Michigan team. While all three of these losses were to great teams, the Seminoles have also failed to beat a high quality team.
The early victory over Ole Miss looked like a great win when they were ranked 11th to start the season, but the Rebels have a total of five losses at this point in the season. Florida State also beat an undefeated Miami Hurricanes team when they were ranked 10th in the country, but they have now lost four games in a row. These were believed to be signature wins after the games were finished, but that is not how they are viewed now.
Florida State may be be disappointed with their ranking, but it should only improve over the next few weeks. The Seminoles have three conference games remaining on the schedule, but none of them have the talent of Florida State. NC State, Syracuse and Boston College are all solid football teams, but they should not pose a threat to Florida State. If the Seminoles can get their offense to play the way it did against Clemson, they will get three easy conference wins in the next few weeks.
The Seminoles get a chance to add a signature win in their final game of the season against the Florida Gators. It will not be easy, but Florida State has to win this rivalry game to get a huge jump in the College Football Playoff rankings. While they will not get a chance to play for the National Championship, winning the final four games of the season should allow Florida State to play in an extremely prestigious bowl game to finish the season.