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FSU Football: 5 reasons fans should step away from the ledge

By Kelvin Hunt

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 21: Head coach Jimbo Fisher of the Florida State Seminoles talks to quarterback James Blackman #1 of the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 21: Head coach Jimbo Fisher of the Florida State Seminoles talks to quarterback James Blackman #1 of the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /

Schedule

The 2015 season was a rebuilding year so I want to start with the 2016 season on this part. FSU has always been a team that will play anyone, anytime and anywhere since the Bobby Bowden days.

These are not excuses, but mere facts as the ‘Noles have played one of if not the toughest schedule in the country over the past two years where they’ve gone (13-9).

Don’t believe me? FSU had the No. 2 toughest schedule in the country in 2016, and have the No. 1 toughest schedule through nine games in 2017 according to USA Today.

Of the nine losses, six of them were either one score losses or games FSU had opportunities to win:

2016

  • vs. Clemson (gave up 17 points in fourth quarter with help from refs)
  • vs. UNC (lost on a 54 yard field goal as time expired)

2017

  • vs. NC State (first game in three weeks and had opportunities to take lead late)
  • vs. Miami (lost on final play of game)
  • vs. Louisville (fumbled the ball near field goal range in final minutes of game)
  • vs. Clemson (turnover down three points with ball on Clemson 40 yard line)

There’s a noticeable trend FSU hasn’t been able to close out close games, and four of those losses are with a true freshman QB who didn’t early enroll that we’ll touch on later.

Perception changes a great deal if you change these six games to wins right? I’m sure you’d agree (19-3) is a lot better than (13-9). For comparisons sake, let’s look at some other teams and their strength of schedule over the past two years.

  • Alabama (No. 49 in 2017 and No. 1 in 2016)
  • Clemson (No. 5 in 2017 and 3 in 2016)
  • Ohio State (No. 26 in 2017 and No. 6 in 2016)
  • Miami (No. 32 in 2017 and No. 26 in 2016)
  • Georgia (No. 39 in 2017 and No. 48 in 2016)
  • Notre Dame (No. 6 in 2017 and No. 38 in 2016)

Clemson’s the closest to FSU in terms of strength of schedule among these top teams and they are (23-2) over the past two years with losses to Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

However, they easily could have been a three loss team in 2016  with losses to Pittsburgh, NC State and FSU with the best QB in Clemson history in Deshaun Watson playing for them.

In fact, if you take Watson off that team I’d almost guarantee they would have had four losses minimum.

They could have lost to NC State again earlier this season and of course have the Syracuse loss(where they lost their starting QB for about three-quarters).

It’s funny how (20-5) is eerily similar to (19-3) when you look at it from this perspective.

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