FSU football: Another reason Noles are best program in the state overall

FSU football is the reigning state champions in the Sunshine State, defeating Miami and Florida last season for the first time since 2016. However, the Noles were state champions in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2016.

The Noles are the only team that can realistically claim the title since they’re the only program that plays the other two major programs in-state every year. Rival fans like to talk a lot of smack, and that’s what makes the rivalries fun.

However, it’s also important to back up that smack talk with facts and stats is one of the best ways to do it. Surely, rival fans will throw up the head-to-head stats, counting wins before they were born to back their narrative.

However, Miami and Florida have had established programs for much longer than FSU, but that hasn’t stopped the Noles from nearly matching or surpassing them in many statistical categories.

One that exemplifies greatness is the number of weeks a program has spent in the No. 1 spot among AP Polls.

Look at that number and who is where on the list. FSU is the most recent program in the state with the No. 1 overall ranking and has the most weeks in the top spot. A reminder, Florida began football in 1906 and Miami in 1926, with FSU in 1947.

It took the Gators nearly 80 years to reach the No. 1 spot, and Miami nearly 60, and took FSU 41 years. What’s crazy is FSU is the youngest program by far among those in the top five. Notre Dame made their first appearance in the No. 1 spot 50 years before FSU did and only appeared 26 more times.

FSU football has also been in the top spot more recently. I know the last half-decade hasn’t been up to FSU standards, but it looks like great days are ahead compared to the other two Florida programs!