Are Florida State's Wins in 2014 More Impressive Than the 2013 Dominance?

Which is more impressive: dominating every team on an easier schedule or showing resolve and winning close games against tougher opponents? The Florida State football team has now done both the past two seasons.

Are FSU's 2014 grind-it-out victories more impressive?

FSU was a powerhouse in 2013 en route to a 12-0 regular-season record and an ACC championship. Yet, the Seminoles were criticized for not being "battle-tested," which led to questioning about how FSU would react when it played Auburn in the BCS championship game. The Seminoles fell behind 21-3 in the second quarter but came back to win 34-31.

This year, FSU is unbeaten but hardly a powerhouse. Minus 10 starters from the 2013 team, the Seminoles are 7-0 but have won their games by a slim margin (just 14.5 points per game vs. Football Bowl Subdivision teams, but it's a lot smaller a margin when factoring in a 43-3 rout of Wake Forest).

While they haven't been dominating, they have shown plenty of mettle in holding off Oklahoma State in the fourth quarter, beating Clemson in overtime, rallying to defeat North Carolina State in a shootout and, on Saturday, using a last-moment fourth-down stop to survive against Notre Dame.

"The Navy SEALs have a saying for it—finding an excuse to win," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "We find excuses to win."

FSU has put together a 23-game winning streak dating back to November 2012. Let's take a look at FSU's 2013 and 2014 seasons:

The Dominating 2013 Season

Wins over Top 25 teams: Maryland, Clemson, Miami, Duke and Auburn.

Wins over unranked but quality teams: Pittsburgh, Nevada, Boston College, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, Syracuse and Florida.

Wins over cupcakes: Bethune-Cookman and Idaho.

Analysis: Most of the games were over by halftime. FSU won 12 of 14 games by 30 or more points. Clemson was No. 3 and was steamrolled. And Miami was No. 7, but FSU pulled away in the second half. The Seminoles shut out Maryland 63-0 and trounced Duke, which didn't score until the fourth quarter.

FSU had to rally to overcome a large first-half deficit to beat Boston College. The team was loaded with NFL talent and had seven players drafted (losing 10 starters total to the NFL).

The Fight-to-the-Finish 2014 Season

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Wins over Top 25 teams: Clemson and Notre Dame.

Wins over unranked but quality teams: Oklahoma State, N.C. State, Wake Forest and Syracuse.

Wins over cupcakes: The Citadel.

Analysis: FSU opened with an unranked Oklahoma State team that was much better than expected. The Cowboys were ranked 15th before losing to TCU last week and dropping out of the Top 25. FSU slipped past Clemson with its No. 2 quarterback, Sean Maguire, throwing for 300 yards.

Against Notre Dame, FSU trailed throughout the game but answered every Fighting Irish score with one of its own. And then FSU held on late by keeping Notre Dame from scoring even though the Fighting Irish had 13 plays on the Seminoles' half of the field in the final three minutes of the game.

Dominant vs. Impressive Seasons

The 2013 team was dominant. Put that team in a special category. It's clearly one of the best FSU teams in school history.

Here's a distinction, though: Which team was more impressive—not dominant, impressive?

The argument for the 2014 team begins with what it doesn't have. Take the 2013 team, all 24 starters (including the kicker and punter). Now take away 10 starters who are gone to the NFL.

Mark Wallheiser/Associated Press

Down to 14 starters, FSU lost one starting defensive tackle (Nile Lawrence-Stample) in the third game. And its starting center (Austin Barron) was lost in the fifth game with a fractured arm. A potential starter at linebacker, Matthew Thomas, missed six games due to an NCAA-mandated suspension before returning for the Notre Dame game.

Care to name a senior on defense that has made a significant contribution this fall? The answer is Desmond Hollin. He has 18 tackles. But he's also the only senior on the two- or three-deep defensive depth chart. FSU starts true freshman end Lorenzo Featherston and sophomore safeties Jalen Ramsey and Nate Andrews. Another true freshman, linebacker Jacob Pugh, had two interceptions in the win over Notre Dame.

On offense, redshirt freshman Ryan Hoefeld has stepped in for Barron at center. Sophomore Bobo Wilson and true freshman Travis Rudolph have emerged as the team's Nos. 2 and 3 receivers (after Rashad Greene).

The 2013 team was filled with seniors (and leaders), especially on defense. There were players like cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, safety Terrence Brooks and linebackers Telvin Smith and Christian Jones. This year's defense has relied on underclassmen for both production and leadership.

FSU's offense is averaging 37.9 points per game, 20th in the nation. The passing game has been prolific, but try picturing how it would look if receiver Kelvin Benjamin had returned for his redshirt junior season instead of going to the NFL early.

Often, it's a glass-half-empty perspective of FSU. It's a glimpse of an unbeaten team with plenty of problems. And that's fair—FSU has concerns.

Try looking at it from a glass-half-full approach. There are only four FBS unbeaten teams left, and FSU is one of them. Not because of domination but because of fight.

Instead of criticizing the 2014 team for what it isn't, take note of what it has accomplished. And what it has done without so many key pieces of the 2013 team.

Bob Ferrante is the Florida State Lead Writer for Bleacher Report, all quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bob on Twitter. All stats are courtesy of seminoles.com.