FSU football has had plenty of great teams to brag about – so which one would come out on top in a 16 team tournament to decided who was the best?
In the 71 season history of FSU football, the Seminoles have had more than their share of things to be proud about and put on a resume to compare and overtake some programs that have been around decades longer – from championships to All-Americans to great moments that defined the program and made us all proud to be Noles.
But, which team was the best of the best? Which squad was the one that, when going up against others, would have come out on top as the best program in FSU football history when it is all said and done?
Luckily for you, we here at Chop Chat have figured out the answer to that question. We recently ranked the top 16 programs in the history of the Seminoles. Of course, the three national title teams got the top seeds to go along with the other top 13 programs since the school played their first full slate against current FBS teams in the 1964 season.
Once those teams were ranked (the nine teams over that span with one loss in a season and four Wild Cards from the two loss category), the battles were set and the top FSU Football team was decided. Here’s each bracket and who came out on top.
No. 1 2013 Season (14-0) vs. No. 16 1995 Season (10-2)
There is no doubt that, when the stats were worked out, that the most recent champs were the best team the Seminoles have ever put out there. Winston and a slew of future NFL players are the only champ to finish in the top five of both offense and defense in the last three decades.
The 1995 squad was led by Danny Kanell at quarterback and Warrick Dunn at running back, but lost the first ACC game in FSU football history (even though Dunn was clearly in the end zone against Virginia) and later against Florida, so this one was easy. Winner: 2013 Seminoles
No. 8 1996 Season (11-1) vs. No. 9 1994 Season (10-1-1)
One season after that 1995 campaign, FSU football had a heck of a regular season that included winning five games against ranked teams with Dunn at running back and one of the best defenses in college football history – before all of that got left in Tallahassee before the Sugar Bowl.
Two seasons before, the Seminoles had a slight hangover from the first national title campaign and dropped a game against Miami and had to come back just to tie the Gators at home (still a great moment). Even with a Sugar Bowl win over Florida, this one goes to the election year squad. Winner: 1996 Seminoles
Regional Final
While the 1996 season had its dominating moments for the Seminoles and some of the better players in program history, the 2013 team was one that couldn’t be stopped during a year that included five wins over ranked teams by an average of over 33 points each game. Winner: 2013 Seminoles
No. 4 1987 Season (11-1) vs. No. 13 1964 Season (9-1-1)
You can laugh all you want to, but the first team to ever have just one loss in a FSU football season in the modern era was a bad group of dudes that got the first wins over Miami and Florida in the same season, the first win over a ranked team (No. 5 Kentucky) as well as blowing out Oklahoma in the first major bowl game behind some wide receiver named Fred Biletnikoff.
The 1987 team was also a group of bad dudes that probably would have won the first national title in program history had they kicked an extra point instead of going for two against Miami. The Seminoles finished the season ranked second in the country, and names like Deion, Sammie Smith and others would have come out on top. Winner; 1987 Seminoles
No. 5 1992 Season (11-1) vs. No. 12 1988 Season (11-1)
For the first time in FSU football history, the Seminoles played a season in a major conference when they joined the ACC for the 1992 campaign. The season started with two ranked conference wins before a missed field goal loss to Miami – with the Seminoles bouncing back with four more ranked wins, including destroying Florida at home and Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.
Four seasons before, the Seminoles entered the year as the top ranked team in the country and got shown the door rather quickly by a Miami Hurricanes team that shut out the Noles. While Florida State had 11 straight wins after that, give me Charlie Ward’s group any day. Winner: 1992 Seminoles
Regional Final
This one might be the most competitive out of the group since they each have a resume that is similar to the other (great year, heartbreak against Miami). Because of the same reason in the last game, I’m willing to go with a team led by Charlie Ward when it comes down to it. Winner: 1992 Seminoles
No. 3 1993 Season (12-1) vs. No. 14 2000 Season (11-2)
The first team to bring home a national title for FSU football was a special group when you look at some of the players that were on that team – names like Ward, Floyd, Dunn, Brooks, Sawyer and dozens more who went on to the NFL. The team’s only blemish was a seven point loss to Notre Dame to go along with six wins over ranked teams.
Florida State Seminoles Football
Coming off a national title the year before, the 2000 squad might have actually been a better all around team when it gets right down to it. You could look past the lost to Miami off another missed field goal, but laying an egg in the national title game means they can’t advance. Winner: 1993 Seminoles.
No. 6 1997 Season (11-1) vs. No. 11 1991 Season (11-2)
One season after getting blown out by a hated rival for the national title, the 1997 campaign was one where the Seminoles did their job for the first 10 games of the regular season – though never were able to really blow away decent competition – before denied a national title trip by losing to those same rivals.
Six seasons before, the FSU football team started ranked number one and showed it by beating ranked Michigan and Syracuse in blowout fashion while also getting road wins against BYU and LSU. Some of the luster gets taken off when you’re taking about a team that lost to both Miami and Florida, but being by a combined six points doesn’t hurt. Winner: 1991 Seminoles
Regional Final
This group was the heart of the dynasty era for FSU football as even a down year for the Seminoles was better than what most teams could do. We had our first double digit seed advance in this group, but there is no way that the national title team would have dropped a game against a team who couldn’t beat either hated foe. Winner: 1993 Seminoles
No. 2 1999 Season (12-0) vs. No. 15 1979 Season (11-1)
The last team to play in the 20th century for FSU football was a special group as it was the first undefeated team under legendary coach Bobby Bowden. The first team to ever go wire to wire as the top ranked team, the Seminoles had five ranked wins and survived not having their best player for two games.
Bowden’s first undefeated regular season team was won that overcame a variety of factors – including playing just four games at home this season – and surprised many by getting through unbeaten before getting thumped by Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. A good team, but this one is a no brainer. Winner: 1999 Seminoles
No. 7 2014 Season (13-1) vs. No. 10 1980 Season (10-2)
With the way the 2013 season went for FSU football, many thought another title season would be a breeze and be just as easy. It was much more difficult than people expected as this team could have lost as many as eight games and, despite winning the ACC, got stomped in the inaugural College Football Playoff semifinal in the Rose Bowl.
If there was a topic of most underrated FSU football team, the 1980 season might run away with the title. This is a Seminoles team who lost two games…by a combined two points, while also having wins over top four ranked Nebraska and Pittsburgh. I really, really want to pick this team, but 2014 still had Jameis and Dalvin and Rashad and more, so talent wins. Winner: 2014 Seminoles.
Regional Final
That being said, while the 2014 squad still had plenty of pieces from the title team a season before, the heart was not there and it seemed like the team was just going through the motions. It would be fun to see Peter Warrick in his prime against Jalen Ramsey, but I think another title team wins out. Winner: 1999 Seminoles
Semifinals
No. 1 2013 Season vs. No. 5 1992 Season
So far, it has been an easy road for the third national title team in FSU football history, with plenty of talent to go around. However, this might be their toughest challenge yet playing against guys like Charlie Ward on offense and Marvin Jones on defense.
With that being said, if we’re talking about the current type of football being played, the revolutionary offense that was played in the early 1990s almost looks like it runs in slow motion at this point – so I’m going to stick with the latest group. Winner: 2013 Seminoles
No. 3 1993 Season vs. No. 2 1999 Season
A battle of champions is taking place in this one as you have Ward and Warrick Dunn taking on Chris Weinke and Peter Warrick to go along with two of the better defenses in the history of the program going head to head for a title game shot.
Honestly, I think this one could go either way considering these are two of the best three programs to ever suit up for the Seminoles – but as much as I love No. 9 on the field, Ward revolutionized the game and is still one of the best to ever play college quarterback. Winner: 1993 Seminoles
Finals – No. 1 2013 Season vs. No. 3 1993 Season
Once again, Jameis Winston and friends get a chance to compete against Ward and his teammates to decide who was the best FSU football team ever. Both teams were amazing on offense – with the 2013 squad scoring more than 40 points a game 12 of the 14 games that season. On defense, the 1993 team actually gave up jut 38 points total in the first eight games of the year.
Next: Top 10 FSU Football Wins All-Time Over Florida and Miami
Both teams were amazing and this may be just living in the present moment, but I still think that the more recent group of Seminoles would edge out a win in this one. While 1993 was revolutionary for its time, 2013 was a year that is among the best of any college football team ever. Winner: 2013 Seminoles