ESPN analysts were, unfortunately, right about the Seminoles in 2024
Florida State has had an awful play in 2024, where they sit with a 1-9 record. Most individuals (other than ESPN's Paul Finebaum and Greg McElroy) thought that the Seminoles could have a chance to win the conference and make the College Football Playoff.
However, the truth of the matter is that this version of the Seminoles has been so disappointing that the preseason over/under win total of 9.5 failed to cash after three games. I still believe that head football coach Mike Norvell is still the guy to fix the mess that he created.
It hurts my soul to admit that both Paul Finebaum and Greg McElroy were right in the offseason for the Seminoles. An undefeated Florida State was left out of last year's College Football Playoff over a one-loss Alabama squad.
With Finebaum, he has always been an SEC-biased analyst. He has made a living off making headlines with what he says. It is worth mentioning that he works for ESPN, which favors the SEC in a ton of their coverage. In the offseason, Finebaum stated that Florida State and Michigan would be the two teams in the preseason AP poll that would finish the season unranked.
As for McElroy, he was very supportive of Florida State on its road to the College Football Playoff. The former Alabama quarterback shifted his thought process and then stated on Selection Sunday that the Seminoles should not be in the invitational due to not being one of the four best teams. McElroy then stated that Florida State would take a massive step back in 2024.
Seminole fans were angry at both individuals in the offseason and were immediately silenced by the play on the field. I hope that Florida State can somehow hush the doubters out in 2025.