Preseason College Football Rankings: Why Florida State Should Be No. 1

Florida State should be listed as the No. 1 team in the country when the AP releases its preseason poll in a few weeks.

Florida State has arguably the weakest schedule among all BCS schools and no school outside of Baton Rouge or Tuscaloosa can rival the depth charts that are on full display at FSU’s recently updated website.

Every opponent on Florida State’s regular season schedule will be listed as the underdog, and it’s for good reason. Only the Florida Gators come close to matching up with FSU on a talent level..

 The talent gap in the ACC is so widespread that, if FSU doesn’t run the table and win the ACC, there are serious problems in Tallahassee.

During the glory years of Florida State football, only two teams consistently stood a chance against FSU during the regular season, the Hurricanes and the Gators. In 1995, Florida State lost to Virginia on an extremely controversial last-second call. And in 1998, the Seminoles lost to the Wolfpack of NC State in a game in which future Heisman-winning quarterback Chris Weinke threw six interceptions.

Those were FSU’s only two ACC losses during the Dynasty Years. Nearly every other regular season loss came against Florida or Miami.

Both Florida and Miami are in rebuilding years—and that is the key to everything. The Hurricanes are not equipped to beat FSU with some fourth quarter field goal drama, and Florida is still a playmaker away from being on
FSU’s level.

The ACC is no better today than it was 20 years ago. And Florida State’s roster looks like one from the 1990s.

It’s the perfect storm for FSU—its roster is stacked, its in-state rivals are down, and the ACC is still weak.

So, with that in mind, I think it is in the best interests of the Associated Press to pick Florida State as its No. 1 team in the land. Phil Steele already has picked FSU to win this year’s National Championship, and it would make sense for the AP to follow in his wise footsteps.

The only question mark on FSU’s team is the offensive line, but the only great defensive line FSU faces this year is Florida’s. That game is in Tallahassee and the Seminoles will be favored.

If the Seminoles go 13-0, as they should, no one knows who they will face in the BCS National Championship Game, but if the O-line can stay healthy all year, it should be a battle-tested, formidable unit when the team arrives in Miami Gardens to play its bowl game.