FSU Football: Noles labeled ACC team with most to prove in 2018

FSU football has plenty to prove after what took place last season, and ESPN believes that the Seminoles have the most to make up for this coming season.

In case you have been living under a rock or have been in complete denial since December 28th of last year, the FSU football team had one of the worst seasons in the last 41 campaigns when they finished with a 7-6 record last season (think about that…our worst record in four decades is still above .500).

With a new head coach, a new scheme, new assistants and a new attitude, the Seminoles have gone all in on doing something to act like 2017 was just a one time thing and everything will return to normal in the 2018 season.

With FSU football going into the upcoming season, there are plenty of questions left about what this team will be in 2018 – can they be a double digit win team who will contend for the ACC or will it be a struggle just to get back to seven wins with that monster schedule.

Regardless of what people think may take place, ESPN.com in a recent ACC preview for the 2018 season made one thing clear: the Seminoles have the most to prove of any team in the conference after what took place last year.

"There cannot be a rebuilding season or a waiting period. Not when the stakes are so high. Florida State simply cannot afford to lose any more ground…(Willie) Taggart knows this. He understands Florida State must be in the national championship conversation year in and year out.Nobody wants to see Clemson keep widening the gap, or Miami close in on what had recently been a lopsided rivalry. This season is not only about moving past 2017, but proving last season was an anomaly."

It has been quite a long time since FSU football played with a chip on their shoulders as big as the one that resides there after last season. The last time the Seminoles had a 7-6 season, they changed coaches and ended up winning 10 games along with the ACC Atlantic – however they didn’t have a schedule that year that included the road blocks in place this season.

In a way, though, the best thing for the Noles might just be that team playing from the outside looking in. No one wants to take into account all the things that went down last season – injuries, close losses – and just wants to look at the record.

Willie Taggart knows that, the players on the field know that and the fans of FSU football know that – now, it’s a matter of seeing what this team wants to do to prove things have returned to normal in Tallahassee.