What About the Playoff?
Florida State finds itself on the side that is playing eight games. Could that be to their advantage? I mean, Florida State did lose to Stanford this season. One Power 4 slot is already spoken for, as the Seminoles will host the Gators in line with the annual Sunshine Showdown. That leaves one open space for Florida State next season that will be filled by a visit to Tuscaloosa. So, for those counting at home, that is Clemson, at Miami, at Alabama, and Florida. The tiebreakers are to be determined, and we saw how fun or not the ACC tiebreakers can be this season.
As the Seminoles face another year of uncertainty on their roster with so many changing places, how will the race to the playoffs work? What happens in the case of an 8-1 ACC team versus 8-0? With all of the schedule talk surrounding the playoff, the committee will have to honor Florida State if it splits those four games with an additional loss. Or does that only work in the SEC? While 2026 will serve as a transition year, the ACC does not find itself in a position of strength reputationally, on a national level. Of course, the Noles have their own internal problems that must be addressed.
What Does the Future Hold?
In the long term, the opportunities are vast. In 2027 and 2028, FSU has a home-and-home with Georgia on the schedule. After that, the fun begins. Who could Florida State play beyond that series? From talking to older fans over the years, matchups with Auburn were always heavily contested, for example. Once the conference as a whole plays nine conference games beginning in 2027 (however that may work), it could bring the university more money with more marquee games and an influx of cash (which seems to outweigh what is best these days). Hello USC? Penn State? Dare I say, Ohio State? Could the ACC expand to acquire a full football-playing 18th member? Florida State has room to grow as a football program, but with respect to the schedule moving forward, the positives outweigh the negatives.
The Final Spear
Ultimately, the ACC’s 2026 scheduling model is a temporary band-aid to a lingering problem. Florida State gets the short end of the stick depending on your perspective. If they had a ninth conference game, it would possibly erase the Alabama rematch, due to the Florida game being irremovable. The answer to pro or con will only be answered once we see the 2026 edition of Florida State football on the field. In a league trying to restore its name on a national level, the opportunities to prove itself are present. All the Seminoles need to do is carry their weight and hope the rest of the conference can do the same.
For more College Football Analysis Michael can be found on the Sports Reports as Ordered Podcast on YouTube, X, TikTok, and all DSPs.