Florida State’s 2024 schedule review: Can the Seminoles repeat as ACC champs?

The Florida State Seminoles are coming off their best season since winning their most recent national championship in 2013 despite the disappointing finish, which saw them get blown out by Georgia in the Orange Bowl after being left out of the College Football Playoff.

The Seminoles lost several key performers including starting quarterback Jordan Travis, but fortified their roster again through the transfer portal and strong recruiting classes. With the CFP expanding to 12 teams, the Seminoles figure to have a realistic chance of making the Playoff this time should they be able to repeat as ACC champions. The schedule has its challenges, which include Clemson at home, Miami and Notre Dame on the road and a season opener next Saturday vs. Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland. It’s hard to see FSU putting together back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons, but another 10-plus win campaign is very realistic….11-1 if it avoids letdowns.

2024 SCHEDULE/PROJECTIONS

Saturday vs. Georgia Tech at Dublin, Ireland (Noon, ESPN): The Seminoles open things up by playing outside the United States for the first time in program history. FSU snapped a brief two-game skid against the Jackets with a 41-16 victory in Tallahassee in 2022. With numerous Noles playing their first games in the garnet and gold, there could be a bit of getting acclimated before things start clicking. Expect FSU to take control by the second half and score a solid victory in its ACC opener abroad. FSU 34-20

Sept. 2 vs. Boston College (7:30 p.m., ESPN): FSU returns home to a sold-out crowd at Doak and what should be an electric atmosphere in a primetime exclusive spot on Labor Day night. Assuming there were no serious setbacks in Ireland, the Seminoles shouldn’t have trouble against the Eagles, who are rebuilding under first-year coach Bill O’Brien. FSU might get the chance to play some younger players in this one and expect the defense to take charge. FSU 47-10.

Sept. 14 vs. Memphis (Noon, ESPN): The Mike Norvell Bowl. In his fifth season at the helm of a renaissance at FSU, Norvell leads the Noles against the program he coached for four seasons prior to arriving in Tallahassee. FSU has won four in a row in the series, but the teams have not played since 1990. With SMU moving to the ACC, Memphis figures to have a strong chance of contending for the American Athletic Conference crown and a win here would give them a shot at running the table and an outside shot at the College Football Playoff. The Tigers were sixth in the nation in scoring offense last season and will bring a potent running game. But this is where FSU’s defensive front can show its resilience despite losing so much to the NFL Draft last year. FSU 48-16.

Sept. 21 vs. Cal (Time TBA): The long trip for the Golden Bears alone makes this one challenging. Quarterback Francisco Mendoza, a Miami Columbus alum, hopes to lead Cal to a winning season in its first in the ACC. But FSU won’t be kind to the conference newcomers in this one. FSU’s offense should pick up some momentum against a team that yielded 414.7 yards per game last season. FSU 42-14.

Sept. 28 at SMU (Time TBA): This could be a bit of a trap game on the road just before a showdown with Clemson a week later. Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee, a former offensive coordinator at Miami, is familiar with FSU and runs a prolific offense which could give the Seminoles trouble. SMU is also the one among the three ACC newcomers with likely the best chance of true contention in its debut season. FSU 30-24

Oct. 5 vs. Clemson (Time TBA): The first of two showdowns in a span of three weeks that will determine if the Seminoles earn a chance to defend their ACC title. The Tigers are eager to take back the crown and have the roster to do it with quarterback Cade Klubnik and running back Phil Mafah leading the way on offense and linebacker Barrett Carter on defense. A primetime setting in this one could make things even more interesting. FSU 31-28.

Oct. 18 at Duke (7 p.m., ESPN2): After a week off, the Seminoles can’t afford a road letdown against the Blue Devils, who are looking to prove they are still among the conference’s upper echelon. Another former Miami rival, Manny Diaz, will be in the midst of his first season as head coach and looking to score a signature win on a Friday night on national television. FSU 33-13.

Oct. 26 at Miami (Time TBA): After FSU embarrassed the Hurricanes 45-3 the last time they played at Hard Rock Stadium in 2022, the gap narrowed significantly last season although the Noles still prevailed 27-20 in a game that was down to the wire until UM quarterback Emory Williams suffered a significant arm injury. This is the game that will determine whether FSU makes the Playoff or not. The Noles need to maintain the upper hand in this rivalry or Miami could take the conference from them. FSU 30-28.

Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina (Time TBA): Tricky timing for this matchup as the Seminoles return home to face the Tar Heels sandwiched between their two biggest games of the regular season. Carolina is trying to replace star quarterback Drake Maye, but should still be among the teams in the upper half of the conference if their defense is better. FSU should be able to exploit that weakness if not. FSU 41-21.

Nov. 9 at Notre Dame (7:30 p.m., NBC): Here’s where the odds could be stacked against FSU after a tough series of weeks, on the road, and in a primetime slot against another CFP contender. If Duke transfer Riley Leonard has the Irish offense humming by this point and Notre Dame is playing the type of defense Marcus Freeman teams tend to play, it might be hard for the Seminoles to reverse their recent results against the Irish. Notre Dame has won the past three in this series. ND 28-24

Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern (Time TBA): This is the spot where everything changed for FSU last season - facing an FCS team just before the annual showdown with Florida and the postseason. In a 58-13 rout of North Alabama last year, the Seminoles lost much more than they won when Travis suffered a season-ending knee injury. The biggest goal here is to avoid serious setbacks to key players with so much to play for after this game. FSU 49-7

Nov. 30 vs. Florida (Time TBA): It will be interesting to see in what shape the Gators are in by the time they make this hop across I-10 to Tallahassee. Could the Seminoles be in a position to deny them bowl eligibility or more in the SEC? Or might Florida surprise and make this an even more meaningful game than some might expect this season. Either way, FSU figures to be a solid favorite at home. And if they are indeed sitting at 10-2 (with one ACC loss) or 11-1 (with one or no ACC losses) after this game, their title defense and the CFP berth would be at stake the following weekend. FSU 35-20