A new season brings renewed optimism in Tallahassee as Florida State looks to rebound after an abysmal 2-10 campaign in 2024. The Seminoles are currently in fall camp, gearing up for their highly anticipated home opener against Alabama, which is less than three weeks away.
The primary focus for Florida State has to shift to restoring the standard of football excellence. While most outsiders are counting out the Seminoles, I want to highlight three reasons why Florida State can restore excellence and bring home an ACC title.
1. Top-Heavy Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is notably top-heavy, with formidable favorites like Clemson and Miami leading the pack. Along with SMU, the ACC has only three teams ranked in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25, the fewest among any Power Four conference. Currently, the Seminoles have the seventh-best odds to win the ACC title, according to FanDuel.
Although they are considered a long shot, Florida State's conference schedule is relatively manageable, as six of their eight conference opponents are listed lower in title odds. The Seminoles will face both aforementioned favorites, Clemson and Miami, and achieving at least a split or ideally a sweep in those matchups could help Florida State squeak into the title game.
2. Mass Uncertainty Surrounding the Team
Florida State has a lot of questions to be answered in 2025. The Seminoles rehauled their coaching staff this offseason with additions of defensive coordinator Tony White and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. Florida State also made big moves in the transfer portal, bringing in another sizable class of twenty-three players.
While most programs would rather lean less on the portal and focus on retention, Florida State should feel confident in its offseason additions. Retaining the bulk of a roster often means a program can look to produce similar results as the season prior, which is exactly what the Seminoles want to avoid. A high-variability team like Florida State should be content with the uncertain expectations leading into the season, as it is better than the alternative of returning a disastrous roster from a year ago.
3. Hungry Team
It is no secret that the Seminoles will be hungry for success heading into the season. Florida State needs leadership, accountability, and a will to win, all lacking from a season ago. The eagerness to win can be accompanied by many notable additions that could change the trajectory of the program. Fueling the appetite could be former Nebraska edge James Williams, who looks to immerse himself in Tony White's 3-3-5 defensive scheme. Williams could play a pivotal role for a team that struggled to get to the quarterback last season.
Another notable name is former Tennessee wide receiver Squirrel White, who looks to fill Ja'khi Douglas' role at the slot position. The shifty wideout is already making splashes in fall camp and strives to become a difference-maker this season. Solid contributions from these players, along with an eager mindset, could boost the Seminoles to Charlotte in early December.