FSU Football can’t afford to overlook Alabama State this weekend

FSU football is set to face the most important FCS foe they will face in the program’s history – and they can not take a win for granted on Saturday.

This weekend, for the first time since the top division of college football split into what is now the FBS and FCS levels back in the 1978 season, the FSU football team is going to be facing a team from the lower level that is actually going to matter for the first time as the Seminoles look to remain unbeaten against FCS teams.

Yes, the Seminoles have faced some tough games against teams from the lower level – the 2009 game against Jacksonville State and last season against Samford, both games the Noles nearly lost, come to mind – but when the Seminoles take on Alabama State this weekend, this game is going to be different for two reasons.

First off, this is not the same Alabama State team that FSU football thought they were getting when they agreed to this game – a Hornets team that hadn’t had a winning season since 2015. This is a team from Montgomery that is coming into Tallahassee with a  5-4 record with two games left to get that sixth win and a winning season.

Florida State Seminoles Football

Second and most importantly – FSU football has run out of chances to make mistakes. They used their final lifeline last weekend with a win over Boston College that evened the record at 5-5 on the season and, as much as I hate to say this, this is likely the final realistic chance for a win with a game against 8-2 Florida coming up on November 30th.

If you think for a second that the Hornets are going to come in a roll over to a team that hasn’t played up to its talent this season, you are sorely mistaken. Why should they be afraid? What have the Seminoles done this season that would make any team at any level be afraid of them?

On paper, the Noles should easily win this game and probably will – as long as they actually respect their foe and don’t over look them just based on the fact that this is the annual ‘cupcake’ game where the Seminoles pay a lot of money for a sure win and the FCS foe leaves with a decent amount of their athletic department paid for.

With just two games left to get one win – and seeing what lies ahead – the Seminoles can’t afford to play around like they have at points this season. It would be nice to be 7-3 right now, but the hand has been dealt and the Seminoles are at least one game better now than they were in 2018.

Will they play at least a bowl game this season after missing out on one last year? The answer hopefully will come later Saturday afternoon if the Noles play smart.