FSU football: 3 reasons 2024 FSU isn't 2023 TCU

Advanced Metrics

The 2023 TCU team finished the season ranked No. 36 overall via FEI advanced metrics. They had the No. 21 offense and the No. 60 defense. The 2024 preseason FEI rankings project FSU as the No. 19 team overall. They project FSU to have the No. 29 offense and the No. 13 defense. I wrote about how FEI doesn't accurately reflect how FSU uses the transfer portal to factor into their preseason projections.

I expect FSU's offense to be top 25 and the defense to be top 15. The differences between the two defensive units are stark.

Yes, FSU lost a lot from its 2023 team, but they reloaded instead of rebuilding like the 2023 TCU team. They have experience at every position, including a quarterback with experience in over 40 games. TCU started a redshirt freshman quarterback in 2023 with a new offensive coordinator. FSU also has years of coaching continuity from the head coach to the offensive and defensive coordinators.

However, the biggest difference between the two programs is overall talent and player development. It's not close and why folks should stop expecting 2024 FSU to fall back to mediocrity like 2023 TCU.