If you follow my work, you know I don't care much for rankings in the preseason. However, advanced metrics usually have less human bias and give a better depiction of what a team brings to the table.
The only problem is that these analysts still have yet to figure out how to properly assess the impact of additions from the transfer portal.
It's a difficult thing to assess because of so much change year in and year out.
SP+ is much more bullish on the Noles in 2025. They have FSU at No. 36 overall, No. 58 offense, No. 28 defense, and No. 13 special teams.
However, the recently released rankings from FEI advanced ratings had FSU well below where I expected. They have FSU at No. 68 overall, No. 91 offense, No. 61 defense, and No. 9 special teams.
FSU offensive coordinator Gus Malzhan routinely has offenses that rank top 30. FSU defensive coordinator Tony White has had back-to-back seasons in the top 20, and FSU has more talent than both of the teams they came from.
FSU had outstanding special teams last year, but will have a new field goal kicker and a new punter. How is it that FSU can still be extremly highly rated when they don't have any idea what the new guys will do in 2025?
The same logic can be applied to the offense and defense. FSU will have new starters in almost every position on offense and several on defense. In most cases, those new players have more experience and production than what FSU will have on special teams. So why the low numbers for offense and defense, and not special teams?
I expect FSU to be closer to the SP+ projections than FEI. It'll be interesting to revisit this once the season is completed.