Why Florida State Can Return to College Football Playoff Without Jameis Winston

For all the questions Florida State faces in 2015—and there are many—the Seminoles benefit from a fairly favorable schedule. Or, as favorable as it can be. 

If there's anything that will help Florida State get back to the College Football Playoff, it's that. 

On Thursday, the ACC released all 14 schedules for next season. The defending ACC champs will have a tough stretch in the month of October extending into the first week of November. In that span, Florida State will face rival Miami, Louisville, Georgia Tech and Clemson, with the latter two games coming on the road. 

That's when we'll find out just how good (or bad) the Noles really are. 

Date	Opponent
Sept. 5	Texas State
Sept. 12	South Florida
Sept. 18 (Fri.)	at Boston College
Sept. 26	Bye
Oct. 3	at Wake Forest
Oct. 10	Miami
Oct. 17	Louisville
Oct. 24	at Georgia Tech
Oct. 31	Syracuse
Nov. 7	at Clemson
Nov. 14	North Carolina State
Nov. 21	UT-Chattanooga
Nov. 28	at Florida

Therein lies the uncertainty with Florida State. Quarterback Jameis Winston is off to the NFL, but this team loses so much more than him. Among those who must be replaced are: tight end Nick O'Leary, receiver Rashad Greene, defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, cornerback P.J. Williams and most of the offensive line. 

With the way head coach Jimbo Fisher has been (and is) recruiting, talent shouldn't be the problem next year. "They’ve done a spectacular job of putting together really good classes," Chris Nee, recruiting analyst for 247Sports, told Corey Clark of the Tallahassee Democrat. "They do a really good job of going after needs. They narrow their focus and they don’t settle. They truly go after the best."

Experience could be an issue, however—at least at first. 

In Week 1, Florida State will basically look like a different team than the ones from the past two years. With new-look teams, especially with a new quarterback, you're never sure what you're going to get out of them. 

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

But the silver lining is that the Seminoles will have a month to figure themselves out. The toughest game between Week 1 and Week 6 is a road game at Boston College on a short week. The Eagles have traditionally played Florida State tough; last year, the Seminoles needed a game-winning field goal against BC. 

However, Florida State doesn't have to face Clemson, its primary competition for the ACC Atlantic Division title, right away. It doesn't have to travel to Georgia Tech in September. 

Those are two huge breaks. Sean Maguire, or whoever will start at quarterback, will have some starting experience barring injuries. The offensive line, under the direction of position coach Rick Trickett, will have come together. The defense should have leaders emerging.

In short, new starters won't be thrown to the fire too early. 

The midseason stretch will make or break Florida State's season and playoff hopes, but fans should be happy it's not an early-season stretch, as Paul Myerberg of USA Today tweets:  

Scheduling in general, but specifically conference scheduling, is a puzzle that's either 100 pieces or 1,000. Sometimes, the draw is unfavorable. Alabama's schedule in 2010 was filled with opponents who faced the Tide immediately following a bye week. (Whether bye weeks help or hurt a team is up for debate, but the scheduling fact remains.) 

Other times, especially with conference divisions, a team gets a favorable slate. Consider the 2007 Kansas Jayhawks, which went 11-1 in the regular season and eventually won the Orange Bowl over Virginia Tech. Kansas, then of the Big 12 North Division, didn't have to play Oklahoma or Texas from the Big 12 South that year. 

Florida State's schedule isn't soft by any means, but there's no game against partial ACC member Notre Dame, and Florida is by far the toughest nonconference opponent. The point being, if Florida State can navigate through its midseason stretch, it sets up for double-digit wins. Without knowing who else will be in the playoff running 10 months from now, that's a good place to start. 

The development at quarterback and offensive line, as well as defensive improvement, will be the major concerns for this team next season. They could eventually be reasons that the Seminoles don't make the playoffs again. 

If those questions are answered, and if the answers are good, then the schedule will be the reason Florida State does make the playoffs. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand.