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FSU Football: Noles shown no respect in way too early 2018 ranking

By Jason Parker

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 7: Running back Cam Akers #3 of the Florida State Seminoles carries the ball as defensive back Jaquan Johnson #4 of the Miami Hurricanes tries to tackle him during the first half of an NCAA football game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 7: Running back Cam Akers #3 of the Florida State Seminoles carries the ball as defensive back Jaquan Johnson #4 of the Miami Hurricanes tries to tackle him during the first half of an NCAA football game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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FSU football is going to have plenty of doubters in the upcoming season – including one from a very early preseason ranking that has them looking up.

When the FSU football program started the 2017 season, they found themselves ranked third in the nation entering the opener with Alabama and had plenty of people talking a potential spot in the College Football Playoffs that would also come with a likely ACC championship – both which would have been firsts for the program since 2014.

When the Seminoles ended the 2017 season, they were holding on to a four game winning streak that ended with an Independence Bowl title and a 7-6 finish with no voter in either the AP or coach’s poll even thinking for a second about giving them a vote and leading many to call the Noles overrated even after the injury to Deondre Francois in that opener.

Now, with a new head coach and the departure of several key players, the early thoughts on FSU football are cautious as evident by the first VERY early top 25 rankings for the 2018 season. Even with one important game left to play, Athlon Sports released they early rankings for next season – and the Seminoles find themselves looking up from the No. 17 spot.

"“(Wille) Taggart is a strong hire for the Seminoles, and the program is due to rebound after a 7-6 record in Jimbo Fisher’s last year in 2017.Taggart’s first priority this spring is to sort out the quarterback battle…Regardless of which quarterback starts, there will be changes to the overall scheme and tempo under Taggart’s watch.End Brian Burns, tackle Demarcus Christmas and cornerback Levonta Taylor provide a foundation to build around for Florida State’s new defensive coordinator in 2018.”"

FSU football fans better not get to upset about this ranking, because there is a decent chance this is where all other preseason rankings entering the upcoming season will have the Seminoles – in part based on the questions entering the season and partly because of people feeling burned over what took place in 2017.

If the Noles are going to prove people wrong, they are going to have their work cut out for them with a schedule that includes four teams ranked ahead of them in this poll alone: Clemson (No. 2), at Miami (No. 5), at Notre Dame (No. 15) and the Labor Day opener against Virginia Tech (No. 16) – along with Florida (No. 25) and road games against Louisville and N.C. State.

Next: FSU winning season streak dominates Florida FBS programs

The 2018 season could very well end with the Seminoles surprising everyone and winning the ACC and making it back to the four team playoff – but it’s going to take some work to climb up to that spot.

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