Florida State Football: Can the Seminoles Win the Big 12?

Florida State and Texas have never belonged together. Why?

Simply put, because these powerhouses have never fought.

Seems odd, doesn’t it, for a possible Big 12 member? Events have transpired quickly, so let’s get you up to date. Recent rumors had floated about the Seminoles possibly ditching the ACC. But how did this happen, you ask?

FSU Chairman of the Board of Trustees Andy Haggard gave his unabashed opinion on FSU’s financial future on Saturday. Haggard said: "On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I can say unanimously we would be in favor of seeing what the Big 12 might have to offer.”

So, it’s just not him, but the entire Board of Trustees. Either Haggard’s got a full deck or has a remarkable poker face. Truth be told, finances have made them less talkative than the chairman's concern. It’s no secret that FSU’s athletic department is experiencing a drought. Currently, the athletic department won’t spend the $2.4 million they have for this year’s athletic seasons because the university is mired in a deficit.

It seems as if the new ACC-ESPN contract won’t be of much direct aid. The deal emphasizes national coverage of basketball dynasties like UNC and Duke. The real money—$4 million a year—wouldn’t kick in until nine years from now. "How can the ACC give up third-tier rights for football but keep them for basketball,” Haggard lambasted. “It continues the perception that the ACC favors the North Carolina schools."

FSU would obviously be of value to the Big 12, though. Having a school in Florida would help make up for—in excess—the markets lost by Colorado and Nebraska’s departures. Get a 12th school, like Miami, Cincinnati or Louisville, and it would be like Missouri and A&M never left.

But what about what matters in football? How would FSU do on the gridiron? The best way to estimate future results is to consult the past. Though the mighty ‘Noles and the behemoth Longhorns have yet to play, FSU’s Big 12 connections may be deeper than we think. 

FSU vs. Baylor: (2-1 Baylor)

FSU has played Baylor three times. But each battle came before the Bobby Bowden era.

The Seminoles took down the Bears 9-7 in Tallahassee in 1965 but lost two close games in the early 1970s.

This should come as no surprise, as Darrell Mundra couldn’t find success coaching FSU, and Hall of Fame coach Grant Teaff had Baylor nationally ranked.

Of course, Baylor has been ranked recently…

FSU vs. Iowa State: (1-1)

FSU lost to Iowa State in 1975—the year before Bowden came. So that result should be discarded.

But who can forget Florida State’s opening game in 2002? ISU quarterback Seneca Wallace rallied the Cyclones from a 31-7 deficit, only to fall 38-31 at a last moment FSU goal-line stand.

Though the game might seem insignificant, Florida State was third in the country at the time and shook the foundation of FSU’s fading dynasty.

FSU vs. Kansas: (5-2 FSU)

Jay—Toma—hawkers—chop?

Sounds very confusing. FSU and Kansas don’t blend well. KU is a basketball school, and FSU players win Heismans. The two programs, though, have an extensive series, playing each other seven times. Bobby Bowden beat the snot out of the Jayhawks when they played.

The 1993 season—FSU’s first national championship year—opened with the Seminoles shutting out Kansas 42-0.

It’s been nearly 20 years, but the despondent state of KU’s football team is clear. Good luck, Charlie Weis.

FSU vs. Kansas State: (3-0 FSU)

The Kansas State games are outliers. The last time these two duked it out, Jimmy Carter was President. Kansas State is known for pulling upsets—anybody watch Bill Snyder and Collin Klein rush their way to the Cotton Bowl?

If FSU started Big 12 play in a couple years, the Wildcats would be less threatening. Klein would be gone, and Snyder retired. But I can see frequent squeaker games between these two.

FSU vs. OU: (6-1 OU)

Ouch!

And here comes the Seminoles’ kick in the groin. Ever since FSU throttled Oklahoma in the 1965 Gator Bowl, things have come out bleak. Whether Barry Switzer or Bob Stoops coached, the Sooners’ sideline determined a negative outcome for FSU.

The first defeat goes to 1976. In what turned out to be Bobby Bowden’s only losing season, the then-nobody ‘Noles lost at OU 24-9.

Then the Orange Bowl sagas came. Four years after taking over FSU, the Seminoles were undefeated in the regular season. Their bowl opponent was Barry Switzer’s powerhouse Sooners team.

If the ‘Noles pounded the Sooners sufficiently, they may have had an outside chance at the school’s first national championship. The favored Sooners ran over the ‘Noles 24-7.

The next year brought more of the same. With only one loss coming into the 1981 bowl season, Florida State was in national title contention. But again, Barry got the best of Bobby, winning on a two-point conversion to crush the ‘Noles high hopes.

Fast forward nearly two years. Bob Stoops was in his second year at Oklahoma, and the Sooners had scored the Earth. But going into their third straight national championship game, the Seminoles were both favored to repeat as national champions.

Stoops’ iron-clad defense brought Bobby Bowden one of his worst losses. FSU’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Chris Weinke couldn’t get into the end zone, and a mere safety kept the 13-2 title game loss from being a shutout.

So, the Sooners were obviously one of the great Bowden’s Achilles’ heels. Unfortunately, that’s continued for Jimbo Fisher. The 47-17 blowout in Norman was almost a season-killing setback for FSU, causing the ‘Noles to have to regroup before ACC play.

Last year’s 23-13 home defeat was decided primarily by an injury to FSU quarterback EJ Manuel.

In my opinion, the Seminoles are gaining ground on the Sooners. While Oklahoma has dominated the series, I believe FSU would get a lucky break if they played OU often enough. Perhaps, they could be rivals in the new Big 12?

FSU vs. OSU: (3-1 FSU)

The series—for the most part—is irrelevant since the Seminoles haven’t played the Cowboys since 1985. Of course, with all of Boone Pickens’ money being funneled into Oklahoma State athletics—along with the hassle an Air Raid offense brings on a rush defensive team—would bring some Seminoles to rip their hair out come OSU weekend.

FSU vs. TCU: (2-1 TCU)

If you couldn’t dig up useful (or cheerful) data from OU and OSU, TCU is not worth noting. The Seminoles haven’t played each other since the mid-1960s.

With the Seminoles current offensive problems, it's unlikely that playing TCU will get easier. When these two played each other, results typically featured shutouts.

If you want to find a low-scoring game in the possible Big 12 future, look no further.

FSU vs. Texas Tech: (4-1 FSU)

Texas Tech hasn’t had many friendly experiences with the Seminoles, even if they haven’t duked it out since the 80s. Until this year, I would have considered the Red Raiders a huge threat to knock off the Seminoles. Mike Leach had become an upset master, and Tommy Tuberville had previous success at Auburn to help the team defensively.

Once the late-season slide commenced and Texas Tech missed out on a bowl game, the threat dissipated. Texas Tech is so far in the country and behind Oklahoma State in athletic funding. The program is fading into irrelevance, so this game should become a staple FSU win.

FSU vs. Texas: N/A

Shocking, really.

How could two of the best teams in the country never play each other, even in a bowl game?

Besides, the mystery behind a series that has never occurred, most observers think FSU and Texas are both growing programs. Given Florida State’s lost decade and Texas’s losing record in 2010, both of these squads have a ton of freshmen-centered talent.

These teams should follow parallel paths of success in the future, making for some tight games either in Austin or Tallahassee.

FSU vs. West Virginia: (3-0 FSU)

This is the second Bowden Bowl. Bobby coached at West Virginia for several years before coming to the Sunshine State. The series is especially relevant right now, since the Seminoles have fought the Mountaineers twice in the 2000s.

After their initial matchup in 1982, Florida State stopped Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense in the 2005 Gator Bowl. Bowden’s last game also took place against West Virginia in the Gator Bowl, though coach Bill Stewart had significantly weakened the team’s offense by that point.

Dana Holgorsen, being the offensive guru he is, will cause haywire among Florida State’s defense. And given Holgorsen’s proficiency of developing killer offensive talent even more quickly than Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State, the Seminoles' possible future division rival could get their goose.

In conclusion, FSU’s real tough games will come from Oklahoma and Texas. That’s a given. But Kansas State, Oklahoma State and West Virginia should down the Seminoles from time to time.

Given the present situation, the ‘Noles would probably be a second-tier team in the Big 12 for a couple of years until exploding onto the national field.