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What’s Next for FSU? Analysts Weigh In with Early Top 25 Projections

By Curt Weiler

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Examining where FSU will begin 2015, per numerous early projections. 

Even though the 2014 season is barely over, that hasn’t stopped analysts all across the country from releasing their projections for the Top 25 teams for the 2015-2016 season. Unlike last year, when the Seminoles were the defending champions and bringing back multiple key players on both sides of the ball including 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, the rebuilding from this season to the next one will be more extensive. As a result of this, the projections of Florida State are more varied than they were last year when the Seminoles were unanimously ranked #1 or #2 across the board.

Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports released his Top 25 projections early Tuesday morning and placed Florida State at #4 for the 2015-2016 season, giving Ohio State the top spot. With regard to Florida State, Dodd said:

"Jameis Winston, Nick O’Leary and Rashad Greene are gone. Jimbo Fisher won’t blink. He has recruited like a madman (No. 2 nationally at the moment). Dalvin Cook returns at tailback. The quarterback battle will be worth following. Winston’s 2014 backup, Sean Maguire, is the only signal-caller with experience."

Shortly after Dodd released his projections, Fox Sports’ Stewart Mandel released his 2015 projections, putting the Seminoles at #5:

"Jameis Winston will be gone, but likely successor Sean Maguire beat Clemson this past season. He’ll benefit from more experience around him, as running back Dalvin Cook and receivers Travis Rudolph and Ermon Lane enter their second seasons. The defense will need to reload, with at least three starters declaring for the draft, but S Jalen Ramsey returns as the anchor."

Paul Myerberg of USA Today Sports released his own top 25 projections for next season as well and he ranked Florida State a little farther down at #7, defending his choice by saying:

"The Seminoles will be too young to win the national championship. But Florida State will still be considered the preseason favorites in the Atlantic Coast Conference. There will be new starters across the board, from quarterback to cornerback, and an overwhelming and defining sense of youth on both sides of the ball. FSU will have enough talent to notch double-digit wins during the regular season, but this team seems to have a brighter future in 2016 than in 2015. This year’s group needs to identify a new leadership core during the offseason."

However, the lowest ranking in a projection for next season came from ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, who ranked the Seminoles all the way down at #19, an outlier from the other projections. Schlabach further explained that Florida State could finish above #19 in the polls if the high-profile recruits being brought in next season can adequately replace the key players lost and if second-year players Dalvin Cook, Ermon Lane, and Travis Rudolph can step up their play, replacing Rashad Greene and Karlos Williams, both graduating seniors. In contrast though, Schlabach stated that the Seminoles could finish lower than #19 next season due to having to replace Jameis Winston, four starting offensive linemen, and many defensive starters.

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With regard to how I think that the 2015-2016 season will go, I lean more toward the first three projections. Although I do not necessarily agree with the analysts stating that Sean Maguire is the most likely starter for next season, I believe that no matter who is behind center on opening weekend, they will be improved by the more experienced wide receivers and running backs who will surround them. Will the games be tougher to watch compared to the past few seasons because of more rampant mistakes? Probably. Will FSU go undefeated in the regular season again? Possibly, but I would advise against getting your hopes up. These questions will begin being answered in Tallahassee on September 5th.

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