I’ve said it a few times already, but FSU will have a solid starting 11 on both sides of the ball as long as they can stay healthy. I’m on record that they would go at least 8-4 if you could guarantee they’d go through the 2025 season without any major injuries to the starting unit.
However, football is a contact sport, and FSU has been unlucky with injuries over the years. The chances of going the entire season without any key players getting bumps and bruises are next to zero. The 2023 season is the closest we got to that, but FSU still had games where they were severely limited at several positions. They were just overall talented enough to overcome those obstacles.
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That likely isn’t the case in 2025. FSU has more talent than people realize, but it’s the lack of experience and proven production that’s missing once you get past the starters. The offensive line, wide receivers, tight ends, the defensive ends, and most of the secondary, except for Jeremiah Wilson, all have little to no experience.
It’s why the ongoing position battles as fall camp continues are so important. FSU won’t call it a third scrimmage, but they will provide those players in position battles the opportunity to separate themselves.
The way the early part of the schedule shapes out should favor FSU. They will have over two weeks after the Alabama game to continue fleshing out the depth chart before they hit the meat of the ACC schedule.
Those two games against Kent State and East Texas A&M will be glorified scrimmages. If FSU can develop some depth between now and then and stay healthy overall, they will surprise a lot of folks in 2025.